How to Recover Outstanding Debts in Nigeria

Recovering outstanding debts in Nigeria can be complex, time-consuming, and challenging, especially when informal recovery efforts fail. Many businesses, financial institutions, and individuals turn to professional debt recovery practitioners to help navigate this process efficiently and within the confines of the law.

At Nedellum Partners, we provide structured debt recovery services in Lagos and across Nigeria, assisting clients to reclaim outstanding amounts while complying with all applicable laws and ethical standards. Our work is guided by Nigeria’s legal framework, industry best practices, and professional ethics.

Understanding Debt Recovery in Nigeria

Debt recovery involves taking lawful steps to recover sums owed by a debtor to a creditor. In many cases, creditors attempt recovery themselves before engaging professional assistance. Professional debt recovery support can improve efficiency, ensure legal compliance, and reduce the burden on the creditor.

Our team is experienced in managing debt recovery matters across various industries — from commercial transactions to financial services — with an emphasis on resolving matters efficiently.

Information Needed for Debt Recovery

To assess and handle a debt recovery matter effectively, certain details are essential, including:

• The debtor’s name and address

• The amount owed

• How long the debt has been outstanding

• Copies of agreements or contracts

• Any correspondence acknowledging the debt

• Any disputes or claims from the debtor (e.g., product quality issues, delivery delays) — whether valid or not — so that they can be addressed appropriately

Providing these details from the outset helps ensure that the process is both accurate and efficient.

Debt Recovery Under the STMA Act, 2017

Where a credit transaction falls under the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017, the Act provides specific recovery mechanisms. For example, if a borrower defaults, the creditor may issue written notice of default and intention to repossess collateral. Ten days after such notice, repossession can occur either:

• Through judicial processes, or
• Without court action if the borrower has consented in the security agreement

Repossession without judicial process may be supported by the Nigeria Police upon presentation of the relevant documentation. The sale of any collateral must comply with the Act’s provisions, respecting the borrower’s and other creditors’ rights.

Our Debt Recovery Process

At Nedellum Partners, debt recovery is handled methodically to improve the likelihood of success. Our typical process includes:

1. Initial Consultation & Agreement – Discussing the matter with the client (virtually or in person) and agreeing on the appropriate approach.
2. Demand Notice – Issuing formal written communication to the debtor.
3. Follow-up Communication – Telephone calls and further correspondence to negotiate repayment.
4. Deadline Notice – Providing a final opportunity for repayment before escalation.
5. Client Consent for Legal Action – Proceeding to litigation only with the client’s written approval.
6. Court Proceedings – Where necessary, instituting legal action to obtain judgment.
7. Enforcement – Executing the judgment to recover the debt.

This process may be adapted to suit each matter’s unique facts and applicable laws.

Scope of Services

Our debt recovery-related services in Lagos and across Nigeria include:

• Negotiations for settlement
• Asset tracing and recovery
• Enforcement of security interests
• Debt restructuring arrangements
• Review of credit and security documentation for lenders and borrowers

Why Clients Work With Us

• Nationwide Reach – We manage matters across all states in Nigeria.

• Tailored Strategies – Recovery approaches are designed for each case’s unique circumstances.

• Ethical Practice – All recovery efforts are conducted in compliance with Nigerian law and professional conduct rules.

• Experience Across Sectors – Our team includes legal practitioners and professionals with backgrounds in finance, credit management, and business advisory.

If you require assistance with a debt recovery matter in Lagos or elsewhere in Nigeria, you may contact Nedellum Partners for a confidential consultation.

The Rise of Social Media Crackdowns: How Far Can Nigeria Go in Regulating Online Media by Aniero Gift

Case Study: Ibom Air Incident

From the days of colonial resistance to Nigeria’s independence, the media has been a tool for social freedom and human expression. Today, social media serves as an unfiltered, instantaneous platform where information spreads faster than regulation can keep pace.

But with this power comes risk. The Ibom Air incident illustrates how quickly online narratives can shape public opinion, influence institutional decisions, and even determine a person’s fate. How far should authorities go in regulating social media without undermining individual freedoms? This article uses the Ibom Air incident as a case study to explore the balance between free expression and social media regulation, and to propose practical steps for fair and responsible oversight.

Social media crackdowns are deliberate attempts by governments to restrict uncensored use of digital platforms while ostensibly preserving citizens’ rights to information and other freedoms. Striking this balance is challenging. In Nigeria, the Twitter ban of 2021 was framed as necessary to curb misinformation but was widely viewed as censorship. During the #EndSARS protests in 2020, authorities monitored online activity, restricted platform access, and threatened media houses accused of spreading “fake news.” The 2017 proscription of IPOB included increased monitoring of posts linked to separatist activities. The 2019 Social Media Bill aimed to criminalise certain types of online speech, though it never became law. During the 2023 elections, government agencies collaborated with social media platforms to remove content deemed false or harmful. These examples show the persistent tension between regulation and fundamental rights.

The Nigerian legal system attempts to balance citizen rights with regulation of online content. Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees everyone the right to freedom of expression, including holding opinions and sharing information without interference. Section 39(3) allows restrictions that are “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society” to protect the rights and reputations of others. The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 criminalizes sending messages or content via computer systems that are grossly offensive, obscene, menacing, or likely to cause harm. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 sets measures to protect personal information and regulate data processing. These laws are highly relevant to cases like Ibom Air, where videos spread rapidly, harming dignity and privacy before full context was known.

On 10 August 2025, Ms. Comfort Emmanson was aboard a flight from Uyo to Lagos when she allegedly refused to comply with crew instructions to switch off her phone. Upon landing, the situation escalated, and she reportedly assaulted a flight attendant, leading to her arrest. Videos of the incident circulated within hours, showing only the alleged assault and omitting earlier moments that provided context. She was initially remanded in Kirikiri prison, and both Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria imposed lifetime bans. The Nigerian government later withdrew the criminal complaint, and Ibom Air reduced her lifetime ban, illustrating how quickly online content can affect public judgment and institutional responses.

The Ibom Air incident underscores the impact of uncensored social media content. Public condemnation surged before the facts were fully known, showing the power of digital platforms to shape opinion and reputations. It also highlights challenges in the digital age, where AI and editing tools make it harder to distinguish authentic content from manipulated material. Selective dissemination amplifies reputational damage, showing why freedom of expression must be balanced with respect for individual rights.

Nigeria has laws and agencies, including NITDA and NCC, addressing digital content regulation. Yet these frameworks need to be clearer, coherent, and insulated from political influence. Regulation should protect privacy, dignity, and freedom of expression, with oversight placed in independent bodies to prevent selective enforcement. Authorities should collaborate transparently with social media platforms to limit harmful content without stifling legitimate discourse. Public sensitisation should extend beyond one-off campaigns, raising awareness of the harm caused by sharing humiliating or damaging content, especially involving vulnerable individuals. Even the best laws are only effective if enforced fairly and consistently. The Ibom Air incident demonstrates the consequences of unmoderated content and highlights the delicate balance Nigeria must strike to protect dignity, privacy, and freedom of expression while maintaining social media as a space for public discourse.

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