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Nigerian domestic airlines have threatened to suspend operations nationwide from April 20, 2026, if the rising cost of aviation fuel is not addressed.
In a letter dated April 14, 2026, which was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Clement Isong, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body of domestic airlines in the country, described the rise in the price of aviation fuel as an “astronomical and unsustainable” increase.
Top government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and others, were copied in the letter.
The President of AON, Abdulmunaf Sarina, said the surge in Jet A1 prices had become unbearable for operators.
The letter read, “Our letter dated March 30, 2026, on the above subject matter refers. Permit us to further bring to your notice that the price of Jet A1 as sold by marketers has risen significantly from the initial N900/litre as at February 28, 2026, to N3,300/litre as of today,” said Sarina.
“This represents an increase of ov
er 300%. This astronomical and artificial increase is not commensurate with the rise in crude oil prices and is well above international market benchmarks, which reflect approximately a 30% increase in crude oil cost.”
The AON also said its members have continued to operate for four weeks, despite rising costs. According to them, they did this out of “patriotism and in the spirit of service to the nation”, but “continued operations are no longer viable”.
They explained that raising ticket prices to reflect fuel costs could lead to low passenger turnout, while suspending operations entirely would have far-reaching consequences, including an impact on financial institutions, disrupt millions of livelihoods, and potentially worsen insecurity across the country.
The AON called on MEMAN to intervene and ensure that jet fuel prices are adjusted in line with international market realities, insisting that airlines can no longer sustain purchases at current rates.
