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The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has set a price range for Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) in Nigeria between ₦1,960 and ₦2,800 per litre.
The decision follows a sharp rise in fuel costs, which has significantly increased airlines’ operating expenses.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has consequently reduced flight operations and warned of a possible shutdown if urgent action is not taken.
In a statement, the Director of Public Affairs at NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, explained that retail prices surveyed nationwide as of 17 April 2026 fall within the stated range, noting that reports of ₦3,300 per litre are inaccurate and do not reflect current market conditions.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had earlier intervened in the situation.
Despite this, airline operators have maintained their stance, cautioning that operations may be disrupted if immediate measures are not implemented. They had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum, threatening to suspend flights.
Industry data indicates that aircraft fuelling costs have risen steeply in recent months. For example, fuelling a Bombardier CRJ 900 or Airbus A220, which cost about ₦2.1 million per flight in January 2026, has increased to approximately ₦7.6 million as of 26 April, representing a 350 percent rise.
The Vice President of AON, Allen Onyema, attributed the increase partly to global tensions, including the US-Iran conflict, but argued that domestic price hikes are disproportionate to global trends.
“Since the advent of the US-Iran war, there has been a spike in aviation fuel price in Nigeria, which we feel is not proportionate to the hike internationally,” Onyema said.
“We expect that in the next 48 hours something drastic should be done because no airline will fly in this country in the next seven days if nothing is done—not because they don’t want to fly, but because fuel may not be available to us at sustainable pricing.”
In response, NMDPRA stated that it has introduced measures to ease supply constraints and reduce costs, including directing marketers to sell aviation fuel directly to airlines to eliminate intermediaries and improve transparency.
The agency added that it would continue to monitor supply and take necessary regulatory actions to prevent disruptions and profiteering. It also assured the public of its commitment to maintaining energy security.
Meanwhile, the Group Manager, Marketing and Communication at Ibom Air, Aniekan Essienette, revealed that the airline may begin reducing flight frequencies as fuel costs become unsustainable.
She described the situation as an “unprecedented crisis”, noting that airlines can no longer operate solely to cover fuel expenses.
According to her, the cost of fuelling a single flight has more than tripled within a short period.
Ibom Air, which operates Bombardier CRJ 900 and Airbus A220 aircraft, stated that despite increased local supply, domestic fuel prices remain significantly higher than global benchmarks.
The airline added that, unlike international carriers, which often reduce capacity in response to fuel hikes, Nigerian airlines have continued to absorb rising costs to keep fares affordable.
“It is clear to us that the current conditions are unsustainable,” Essienette said. “We will have to take whatever ameliorating actions we can in the days ahead, including reducing our capacity if necessary.”
