Nigeria’s aviation sector is on the brink of major disruption as domestic airlines signal plans to suspend operations from Thursday, April 30, 2026, over soaring aviation fuel prices widely described as “unsustainable.”
Operators under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) say the cost of Jet A1 fuel has surged by more than 300 per cent in recent months, pushing airlines to the edge of collapse and raising fears of widespread travel chaos for passengers across the country.
Talks with government hit deadlock
Efforts to avert the looming shutdown appear to have stalled after a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ended without a concrete resolution.
While the Federal Government announced a 30 per cent reduction in aviation-related taxes to cushion the impact, airline operators insist the measure does not address the core issue—runaway fuel prices.
Fuel costs triple, airlines struggle to stay afloat
Industry leaders say the price of Jet A1 has skyrocketed from about ₦900 per litre earlier this year to between ₦2,700 and ₦3,500, forcing airlines to operate at a loss.
Vice President of AON, Allen Onyema, warned that airlines are now flying primarily to offset fuel costs, a situation he described as unsustainable.
“Airlines are practically operating just to pay for fuel. Safety cannot be compromised, and something urgent must be done,” Onyema said, adding that operators had issued a seven-day ultimatum for decisive action.
Operators demand urgent intervention
In a formal appeal to the government, AON President Abdulmunaf Sarina called for emergency relief measures, including:
- Immediate suspension of aviation taxes and charges for six months
- Introduction of a non-taxable fuel surcharge
- Credit support from fuel marketers to offset rising costs
- Establishment of a tax reform committee for the aviation sector
Operators warn that failure to act could not only ground flights but also trigger job losses and destabilise the wider aviation industry.
Passengers brace for disruption
The potential shutdown has left passengers anxious, particularly business travellers and those with urgent travel needs, as uncertainty looms over flight schedules nationwide.
Despite speculation about airline debts, industry insiders maintain that operators remain up to date with payments to key agencies such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Global factors, local pressures
Airlines partly attribute the spike in fuel prices to global tensions, including the US-Iran conflict, but argue that local pricing trends far exceed international benchmarks.
With the deadline fast approaching and no breakthrough in sight, Nigeria’s aviation sector faces a critical moment—one that could ground flights nationwide and disrupt economic activities if urgent solutions are not reached.
