Aviation Crises: FG Moves to Avert Flight Shutdown as Jet Fuel Hits N3,300/Litre

Aviation Crises: FG Moves to Avert Flight Shutdown as Jet Fuel Hits N3,300/Litre

By Ighoyota Onaibre, Waterways News

The Federal Government has stepped into what is fast becoming an existential crisis for Nigeria’s aviation sector, appealing to domestic airline operators to pull back from the brink of a full-scale flight suspension following a staggering 300 per cent spike in aviation fuel prices.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a formal letter to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), urged carriers to hold off on any plans to ground operations — a move that would send shockwaves across Nigeria’s transport ecosystem, including the maritime and logistics corridors that depend heavily on air-freight connectivity.

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The trigger is a dramatic surge in the price of Jet A1 fuel — from roughly N900 per litre in late February to approximately N3,300 per litre today, a near-overnight tripling of costs that operators say has made it impossible to break even.

An Industry on the Edge

In a letter dated April 14, AON pulled no punches, describing the fuel price hike as “astronomical and artificial” and warning that current revenues could no longer cover even fuel costs alone. The operators said the situation represents an existential threat to the sector — one that, if left unresolved, could trigger mass job losses, destabilise financial institutions with exposure to the aviation industry, and create serious security gaps across the country.

They also cautioned that hiking ticket prices to compensate would simply accelerate the collapse, with fewer Nigerians able to afford to fly.

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Keyamo Urges Restraint, Promises Action

In his response, Keyamo acknowledged the grim operating environment and commended airline operators for sustaining services despite the mounting pressure. But he drew a firm line on fare increases, warning that passing costs to passengers would hurt the travelling public and dampen demand further.

He also made clear that a shutdown was not an option the Federal Government was willing to countenance. The minister noted that a grounding of flights would cripple mobility and logistics networks, shake public confidence, and set back years of aviation sector reform under the Tinubu administration.

“The aviation sector remains a critical national asset,” Keyamo stated, describing its role as central to trade facilitation, national security, job creation, and economic integration.

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Emergency Summit Called for April 22

In a bid to find a structured path forward, the minister has convened a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting, scheduled for April 22, 2026, in Abuja. The gathering will bring together airline operators, regulators, and key industry stakeholders to develop practical, sustainable measures to stabilise the sector.

The outcome of that summit is expected to determine whether Nigeria’s domestic aviation industry pulls through — or whether the country faces an unprecedented shutdown of air services.

Why It Matters Beyond Aviation

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For Waterways News readers, the stakes extend well beyond airports and runways. Nigeria’s transport sectors — aviation, maritime, and road — are deeply interconnected. A collapse in domestic air services would amplify pressure on seaports, inland waterways, and road freight networks already straining under the weight of high energy costs and infrastructure deficits.

The aviation crisis is, at its core, a fuel crisis — and Nigeria’s maritime sector knows that story all too well.

Waterways News will continue to track developments ahead of the April 22 stakeholders’ meeting.

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