By Ayo Kehinde
The Federal Government has moved to douse rising tensions in Nigeria’s aviation sector following a sharp surge in the price of Jet A1 fuel, urging calm among stakeholders and announcing an emergency engagement with industry players aimed at preventing wider disruption.
The intervention comes amid growing concern within the aviation industry over a sudden and significant increase in aviation fuel costs, which has placed pressure on airline operations and heightened fears of potential fare adjustments and service disruptions.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Friday appealed to airline operators to exercise restraint and avoid immediate adjustments to airfares, warning that such a step could worsen economic pressures on passengers and reduce accessibility to air transport.
The appeal was directed at members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), who have been grappling with rising operational costs linked largely to the spike in Jet A1 fuel prices.
The development is also unfolding against the backdrop of disagreements between airlines and fuel suppliers, including the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), over the pricing structure of aviation fuel amid global supply disruptions.
In a letter dated April 16, 2026, and addressed to the AON President, Keyamo detailed the scale of the increase, noting that Jet A1 fuel had risen from N900 per litre as at February 28, 2026, to N3,300 per litre currently—representing a 300 per cent surge within a short period.
“I write in reference to your correspondence dated April 14, 2026, concerning the operational challenges currently confronting your member airlines, especially the sudden hike in Jet A1 fuel… representing a three hundred percent (300 percent) increase,” the minister stated.
Despite acknowledging the severe strain on airline operations, the minister commended operators for maintaining services under difficult conditions, describing their efforts as a demonstration of resilience and professionalism.
“At the outset, I wish to commend the resilience, professionalism, and steadfast commitment of your members in sustaining air transport services under evidently difficult conditions,” he said.
Keyamo reaffirmed that the aviation sector remains a critical national asset under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, highlighting its importance to trade facilitation, national security, employment generation, and economic integration.
He also referenced ongoing reforms in the sector aimed at strengthening indigenous operators and improving long-term stability in line with the Civil Aviation Act, 2022.
In his appeal, the minister urged airlines to avoid any upward review of ticket prices at this time, stressing that such a move would impose additional hardship on Nigerians already facing multiple economic pressures.
“Any immediate upward adjustment in ticket prices would impose significant hardship on the travelling public, potentially depress demand, and limit accessibility to air transport,” he warned.
Keyamo further cautioned against any plan to suspend flight operations, noting that such action would have far-reaching consequences for the economy, logistics networks, and public confidence in the aviation system.
He assured stakeholders that the Federal Government is fully engaged with the situation and working to address the concerns raised by operators.
Accordingly, the minister announced the convocation of an emergency stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Abuja, bringing together regulators, airlines, and fuel marketers to seek a coordinated and sustainable resolution.
The meeting, according to him, is expected to provide a platform for frank discussions and practical solutions to the escalating fuel cost challenge confronting the sector.
