Nigeria, Sept. 12 -- The Federal Government has paid outstanding severance benefits to 2,100 former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, more than two decades after the national carrier was liquidated.

The payment covers beneficiaries in Batches 1 to 7, according to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Friday.

Another 600 former workers in Batches 8 and 9 are being processed for payment and are expected to receive their benefits within days, bringing the total number of beneficiaries under the exercise to 2,700.

The ministry said the benefits across the nine batches amount to N18 billion.

Nigeria Airways, which was established in 1958 as the country's national carrier, ceased operations in 2003 and was liquidate...