Nigerian aviation fuel supplier CITA Energies Limited is looking to expand into underserved airport markets and diversify into other areas of the energy sector as it marks 20 years of operations amid global supply disruptions and domestic pricing pressures.
The company outlined its growth ambitions at its 20th-anniversary celebration at the Grandeur Event Centre in Lagos, where executives reflected on its focus on fuel quality and safety while highlighting opportunities in Nigeria’s expanding aviation market.
Founded by Chairman Thomas Ogungbangbe, CITA Energies has built its operations around aviation fuel quality control and delivery standards. National Operations Manager Jeffery Emmanuel Egbadon said the company had prioritised product quality and safety over volume throughout its two decades in the sector.
He said the company’s experience had also contributed to the development of the wider West African aviation fuel market, with professionals trained during its growth going on to establish their own businesses.
Acting Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Titi Olaore said CITA intended to maintain its position in aviation fuelling while exploring opportunities across the wider energy industry over the next two decades.
She noted that Nigeria still had room for growth in aviation fuel distribution, particularly as governments pursue airport development and expand air transport infrastructure. She cited potential opportunities at underserved domestic airports and plans for a new airport around Epe, Lagos.
However, the company’s expansion plans come against a challenging supply environment. Executives said geopolitical tensions, including conflict affecting the Middle East and shipping routes around the Red Sea, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, have disrupted global refined petroleum product logistics and affected supply chains serving African markets.
Although the Dangote Refinery provides a domestic source of refined products, aviation fuel prices remain exposed to global crude oil benchmarks, foreign exchange movements and other supply-chain costs.
Olaore said aviation fuel suppliers in Nigeria were operating under a single-source pricing arrangement that limits their flexibility in setting prices. Marketers must work with the prevailing supply price and account for additional costs incurred in transporting fuel to aircraft.
She said CITA reviews its costs regularly to remain competitive and assess what it can offer airlines, despite having limited control over the underlying purchase price.
Finance Manager David Olude said market volatility and government policies continued to affect the aviation fuel business, requiring companies to adapt to changing conditions. He added that engagement with regulators and other industry stakeholders remained important in aligning commercial interests with regulatory requirements.
As it enters its third decade, CITA Energies says it will continue to prioritise fuel quality and safety while seeking new airport customers and opportunities across the energy value chain. Its ability to grow will depend partly on how it navigates supply-chain uncertainty, pricing pressures and the development of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure.
