- Nigerian domestic airlines are preparing to ground all operations by Thursday, April 30, 2026, as aviation fuel costs reach “unsustainable” levels.
- Operators report that Jet A1 prices have skyrocketed from N900 to as high as N3,500 per litre, representing a staggering 300 per cent increase in just two months.
- A high-level meeting between the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, fuel marketers, and airline owners ended in a stalemate, with airlines rejecting a 30 per cent tax waiver as insufficient.
The Nigerian aviation sector is teetering on the edge of a total shutdown, with domestic airline operators issuing a final warning that flights will cease by Thursday if fuel prices are not drastically reduced.
Eko Hot Blog reports that this looming disruption follows weeks of failed negotiations between the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), oil marketers, and the Federal Government over the soaring cost of aviation fuel.
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According to AON Vice President Allen Onyema, the price of Jet A1 has become a “stranglehold” on the industry. Before the current crisis, fuel was purchased at approximately N900 per litre; however, it is now being sold for between N2,700 and N3,500.
Onyema stressed that airlines are essentially “flying only to pay fuel marketers,” a situation that threatens to compromise safety and financial stability.
He further alleged that the price hikes in Nigeria are disproportionate to international market trends following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict.
In a desperate bid to stave off the collapse, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo announced a 30 per cent reduction in aviation-related taxes and offered to waive 30 per cent of existing airline debts.
While the AON acknowledged the government’s intervention, they maintained that these measures do not address the root cause: the “arbitrary” pricing set by marketers.
The operators have formally requested a six-month suspension of all aviation taxes and the introduction of a non-taxable fuel surcharge to help manage overheads.
As the midnight deadline on Thursday approaches, travelers across the country are facing mounting uncertainty. Senior airline executives confirmed on Sunday that unless a “drastic” change occurs within the next 48 hours, aircraft will remain on the tarmac.
With the aviation sector serving as a critical artery for Nigerian business and governance, a total grounding would likely trigger a significant economic ripple effect across the nation.
