BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria’s domestic airlines have warned they will suspend operations from April 20, 2026, over what they describe as a crippling and “exorbitant” rise in aviation fuel prices, accusing marketers of exploiting the market amid global oil shocks.
The warning came in a letter dated April 15, 2026, signed by the President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Abdulmunaf Sarina, and addressed to the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong.
The association said Jet A1 prices had jumped from about N900 per litre on February 28 to N3,300 per litre within less than two months—an increase it described as unsustainable and disconnected from global crude oil trends, which it said had risen by about 30 per cent.
While copying President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo, and the DSS, the operators warned that the situation had reached a breaking point.
“The actions of fuel marketers are effectively decimating the aviation industry and putting the country’s economy, safety, and security at risk as airlines are gradually being forced to suspend operations,” the letter stated.
It further warned that one airline had already been grounded since March 13 due to the cost pressures, describing it as a preview of wider industry collapse if no intervention is made.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this arbitrary increase has already seriously impacted a particular airline and forced it to ground all its operations since March 13, 2026. This is an inevitable consequence for all other airlines if the situation does not change immediately.”
The AON cautioned that the survival of the entire aviation sector was now at risk, warning that pricing tickets at current fuel levels would make operations commercially impossible.
“The airlines are now facing existential threats with grave attendant consequences to the overall wellbeing of the nation. If we price our tickets to reflect the current price of aviation fuel, we will be flying empty planes,” it said.
It added that a shutdown would have far-reaching economic consequences.
“If the airlines go out of business, banks will take a hit, millions of people will lose their means of livelihood, and insecurity will be on the rise.”
The association urged immediate intervention to align Jet A1 prices with global benchmarks, warning that continued escalation would force a complete halt in operations.
“Therefore, we hereby give notice that if the current trend persists, all the airlines in Nigeria will be forced to suspend operations with effect from Monday April 20, 2026. This is our final plea.”
The latest warning follows an earlier intervention on March 30, 2026, when the AON raised alarm over what it described as a sharp and unjustified spike in fuel prices from N900 to N2,557 per litre—about a 200 per cent increase.
In that earlier correspondence, the operators said the surge had far outpaced global crude oil movements and accused marketers of taking advantage of international market disruptions.
“This astronomical rise in the cost of Jet A1 among your members far outstrips the globally accepted norm of pricing fuel products proportionately with the level of rise in crude oil prices,” the March letter stated.
It further warned that aviation fuel accounts for about 40 per cent of airline operating costs, noting that continued increases threatened the survival of the industry.
“What we have seen, however, is a systematic and unilateral increase in the price of aviation fuel over and above globally accepted standards amounting to price volatility levels far higher than most global markets.”
The operators also called for urgent price correction within 48 hours at the time, warning of further action if the situation persisted.
“Aviation fuel accounts for about 40% of airlines operational cost… We therefore call on you to urgently bring down this artificial and exorbitant cost of Aviation Fuel within 48 hours otherwise airlines will be forced to take other measures to ensure their survival and protect the flying public from unnecessary exploitation.”
With both warnings now converging, the aviation sector faces one of its most severe disruptions in years, as tensions between airlines and fuel marketers escalate over spiralling Jet A1 costs.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
