Domestic airlines in Nigeria have issued a stark warning that operations across the country could be suspended from April 20 if the ongoing surge in aviation fuel prices persists, raising fresh concerns over the stability of the aviation sector and its wider economic implications.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), in a formal notice dated April 14 and signed by its president, Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, accused fuel marketers of driving what it described as an “astronomical and artificial” increase in the price of Jet A1. The letter, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, was also copied to top government officials and regulatory bodies, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, and the Department of State Services.
According to the operators, the price of aviation fuel has surged from about N900 per litre at the end of February to as high as N3,300 per litre in recent weeks, representing an increase of over 300 per cent. The group argued that the spike is inconsistent with global crude oil price movements, which have risen by roughly 30 per cent within the same period.
Airlines say they have absorbed the cost pressure for weeks in an effort to sustain operations, but the situation has now become unsustainable, with revenues no longer sufficient to cover fuel expenses alone, let alone other operational costs. The association warned that the current pricing regime is eroding the viability of airline businesses and could trigger a wider industry crisis if left unresolved.
The AON further noted that the impact is already being felt, with at least one carrier reportedly forced to suspend operations since mid-March. It cautioned that more airlines may follow if urgent intervention is not secured, stressing that the consequences would extend beyond the aviation sector to affect jobs, financial institutions, national security, and economic activity.
While acknowledging that ticket price adjustments could provide temporary relief, the operators warned that higher fares would likely suppress passenger demand, further compounding the crisis. They therefore called for an immediate and proportionate review of jet fuel pricing in line with international benchmarks.
Describing the situation as an existential threat, the airlines said the notice represents a final appeal, signalling that a nationwide shutdown of domestic flight operations may become unavoidable if conditions do not improve in the coming days.
