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Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged airline operators to exercise caution and refrain from raising airfares or halting operations, following a sharp 300% increase in the cost of Jet A1 fuel, warning of the severe consequences such actions could have on the Nigerian economy and public mobility.
The Nigerian aviation industry is facing a critical situation, with leading airlines threatening to suspend flights as early as next week. The jet fuel price has surged from N900 per litre in February 2026 to N3,300 per litre, placing immense financial strain on airlines.
In a letter to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Friday, Keyamo acknowledged the immense challenges facing the aviation sector but appealed for restraint, particularly regarding fare hikes.
“While the pressures on your operations are fully understood, any immediate increase in ticket prices would inflict hardship on the public, reduce demand, and limit access to air travel for many Nigerians,” he said.
The Minister reiterated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu holds the aviation sector in high regard, seeing it as a crucial asset to the economy, national security, and job creation.
In light of this, Keyamo assured the airline operators that the government was actively addressing the crisis and scheduled a high-level emergency meeting for April 22, 2026, in Abuja. The meeting will bring together key stakeholders to discuss viable, sustainable solutions.
Keyamo concluded the letter by emphasising that any flight suspensions would disrupt critical logistics, harm the national economy, and undermine the progress made through ongoing sectoral reforms.
