Domestic airline operators in Nigeria are set to halt operations from Thursday, April 30, over what they describe as unbearable and unsustainable aviation fuel prices, raising fears of major travel disruption across the country.
Industry sources say airlines may have no option but to ground flights after repeated engagements with the Federal Government and fuel marketers failed to produce a breakthrough.
The looming shutdown follows complaints from operators over the sharp rise in Jet A1 prices, which they say have surged by more than 300 percent since February, pushing operating costs to critical levels.
If the threat materializes, passengers across Nigeria could face widespread disruption, especially those relying on domestic flights for business and urgent travel.
Efforts to avert the crisis reportedly included a meeting in Abuja convened by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo involving airline operators and fuel marketers, but the talks ended without resolution.
Although the minister announced a 30 percent reduction in aviation-related taxes as a relief measure, operators insist the move does not address the core issue of fuel pricing.
Speaking during the discussions, Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Allen Onyema, said the problem lies in the cost of aviation fuel and called for accountability from marketers.
“This government has helped the industry more than anyone since 1999, and the President is even willing to waive 30 percent of the debts airlines are owing,” Onyema said.
“But the truth is that the marketers must be brought to book to explain how they came about the 300 percent increase when even Dangote is surprised because what he is selling to us is still the cheapest.”
Onyema also issued a strong warning after the second day of talks, saying airlines could suspend flights within days if urgent action is not taken.
“Since the advent of the US Iran war, there has been a spike in aviation fuel in Nigeria, which we, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, feel is not proportionate to the hike internationally,” he said.
“We expect that in the next 48 hours something drastic should be done because no airline will fly in this country in the next seven days if nothing is done, not because they don’t want to fly, but because fuel may not be available to us at sustainable pricing.”
The threat of a nationwide shutdown has heightened concerns across the aviation sector, with stakeholders watching closely for any last-minute intervention that could prevent disruptions and keep domestic air travel running.
