Nigeria airlines say 300 percent fuel price surge makes operations unsustainable…reports Africa Daily Newsdesk
Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector is on the brink of a potential shutdown as operators struggle with a steep and sustained surge in fuel costs, fuelling fears of major disruptions to air travel and wider economic activity.
According to Business Insider Africa Nigeria, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, said the price of Jet A1 has jumped from N900 per litre in late February to N3,300 per litre, marking an increase of more than 300 percent.
The group described the spike as “astronomical and artificial”, arguing that it far exceeds the roughly 30 percent rise in global crude oil benchmarks.
AON president Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, as reported by Business Insider Africa Nigeria, issued the warning in a notice addressed to fuel marketers, with copies sent to senior government officials, including President Bola Tinubu and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo.
“For the past four weeks, airlines have endured this burden… however, the situation has now become unbearable and clearly unsustainable,” the notice said.
“Accordingly… all airlines in Nigeria will be compelled to suspend operations effective Monday, April 20, 2026,” the group warned, describing the move as a final appeal for urgent intervention.
