BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria’s worsening Jet A1 aviation fuel shortage has triggered fresh concerns over passenger safety, airline survival and potential job losses, with the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) warning that prolonged disruptions could push some carriers to the brink.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, said the lingering scarcity of aviation fuel was already taking a heavy toll on flight operations across the country, disrupting schedules, stretching crew duty hours, and piling severe financial pressure on operators.
The association warned that unless urgent action is taken by the Federal Government and regulators, the crisis could escalate into a broader threat to Nigeria’s aviation industry and the wider economy.
NAAPE described the situation as a “grave concern” with far-reaching implications for pilots, engineers, airline operators, and the flying public.
According to the association, repeated delays and flight disruptions caused by inadequate fuel supply are forcing pilots and engineers to remain on duty for longer hours than originally planned, thereby increasing fatigue levels among aviation personnel.
The union stressed that fatigue remains one of the most dangerous risks in global aviation because it directly affects human performance and decision-making.
“The persistent disruptions to flight schedules occasioned by the Jet A1 supply shortfall have resulted in significant extensions of crew duty time beyond planned parameters.
“For our members, pilots and engineers alike, this translates directly into elevated fatigue levels, a condition that is universally recognised in aviation as a critical safety hazard”, the statement noted.
NAAPE further explained that fatigue impairs cognitive function, slows reaction time, and weakens situational awareness, a critical element required for safe flight operations and aircraft maintenance.
“The safety of every passenger aboard is therefore placed at measurable risk when crew members are compelled to operate under these conditions,” the association warned.
The development comes amid growing complaints from airlines and passengers over recurring flight delays, cancellations, and operational disruptions linked to the rising scarcity and cost of Jet A1 fuel across several airports in the country.
Industry stakeholders say the challenge has worsened operational instability for local airlines already battling high foreign exchange costs, multiple taxes, inflationary pressures, and weak infrastructure.
Beyond safety concerns, NAAPE said the aviation fuel crisis was rapidly becoming an economic emergency for airline operators.
The association noted that grounded aircraft and delayed flights continue to generate losses for airlines because operational expenses such as aircraft leasing, maintenance obligations, insurance costs, airport charges, and staff salaries remain constant even when flights do not operate.
According to NAAPE, the financial burden on operators is already filtering down to workers through delayed salary payments, wage cuts, and deteriorating welfare conditions.
The body cautioned that employees working under financial uncertainty and mental stress could become distracted, a situation it described as dangerous within the aviation environment.
“Grounded or delayed aircraft generate no revenue, yet fixed operational costs persist.
“This economic pressure invariably filters down to our members in the form of delayed salary payments, wage reductions, and general deterioration of welfare conditions”, NAAPE added.
“A workforce operating under financial stress is a workforce distracted, and distraction in an aviation environment is, once again, a precursor to compromised safety,” it said.
NAAPE also expressed concern over early signs that some domestic carriers have begun restructuring operations in response to the crisis.
The association specifically referenced the recent decision by Rano Air to reduce some of its operational routes, describing it as an indication of the growing strain on airlines.
It warned that if the fuel supply challenge persists, more carriers could suspend routes, scale down operations, or even shut down entirely.
“Should the situation remain unaddressed, we anticipate further route suspensions, potential cessation of operations by some carriers, and significant job losses across the aviation sector,” the union said.
The body noted that aviation remains a critical driver of commerce, tourism, trade, investment, and national connectivity, warning that prolonged instability in the sector could have severe ripple effects on the Nigerian economy.
According to NAAPE, disruptions in air transportation would negatively affect business activities, supply chains, tourism traffic, and investor confidence, especially at a time when the country is seeking to attract more investment into critical sectors.
The association, therefore, called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), fuel marketers and other stakeholders to urgently intervene and restore stability to Jet A1 supply nationwide.
NAAPE insisted that aviation safety must not be compromised under any circumstance, stressing that decisive action was needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
“It is the solemn mandate of NAAPE to advocate for the safety and welfare of our members and, by extension, the flying public,” Gindeh stated.
“We hereby call on the Federal Government, the NCAA, the NMDPRA, fuel suppliers, and all relevant stakeholders to treat the resolution of this Jet A1 supply crisis as a matter of urgent national priority.”
“Aviation safety is non-negotiable. The lives of Nigerians in the air depend on decisive and immediate action,” he added.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
