The Federal Government has appealed to domestic airlines to suspend plans to halt flight operations following a sharp rise in the price of Jet A1 fuel, which has increased from N900 per litre in February to N3,300 per litre — a 300 percent surge.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo also urged carriers to reconsider any planned increase in airfares, warning that higher ticket prices would impose significant hardship on the travelling public.
Keyamo made the appeal in a letter addressed to the Airline Operators of Nigeria on Thursday, following threats by airlines to suspend operations next week due to the rising cost of aviation fuel.
“I write in reference to your correspondence dated April 14, 2026, concerning the operational challenges currently confronting your member airlines, especially the sudden hike in Jet A1 fuel from N900 per litre as at February 28, 2026 to N3,300 per litre as at today, representing a 300% increase,” the minister stated.
Keyamo commended the resilience of airline operators despite the challenging environment and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the aviation sector, describing it as a critical national asset.
He urged airlines to exercise restraint in adjusting ticket prices, stating, “While the prevailing cost pressures on your operations are fully acknowledged, any immediate upward adjustment in ticket prices would impose significant hardship on the travelling public, potentially depress demand, and limit accessibility to air transport for a broad segment of Nigerians.”
The minister also appealed for the reconsideration of any planned suspension of flight operations, warning that such action would have far-reaching adverse implications for the national economy.
He disclosed that an emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Abuja, bringing together all relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities to find a lasting solution.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria had earlier described the fuel price surge as “astronomical and artificial,” warning that revenues could no longer cover even the cost of fuel alone and that the situation posed an existential threat to the industry.
