Air Peace (P4, Lagos) is threatening to sue the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after its operations were halted at Enugu airport for two hours on June 9. The dispute over a NGN7 million debt (USD22,000) has been labelled 'sabotage' by the airline, reports news site The Guardian Nigeria.

Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, claims that the airline's flights were halted by Enugu Airport Manager Mgbemena Orjiakor over a debt that Air Peace says it has already paid.

"We do not know if the airport manager is sponsored by someone to bring down Air Peace because even after Lagos sent evidence of the payment, rather than own up to the fact that the agency lacked proper accounting, the agency said the airline is owing an outstanding NGN1.8 million (USD5,600). This is why I said this act is sabotage," Onyema said.

FAAN's Acting General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, apologised for the misunderstanding and confirmed that Air Peace had actually paid its outstanding debts. However Onyema said he will seek compensation.

"If we are not adequately compensated for our losses, we promise the government that we will go to court. This is part of the reasons why airlines in Nigeria do not survive," he said.