Nigeria’s government has called an emergency meeting with airline operators and industry stakeholders as a deepening jet fuel crisis threatens to ground flights across the country, according to local media reports.
The meeting, scheduled for April 22 in Abuja, was convened by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo after domestic carriers warned earlier this week they could suspend operations as soon as April 20 due to surging jet fuel prices.
Local media outlets, citing the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), reported that fuel costs have jumped from around 900 naira per litre in late February to more than 3,300 naira in recent weeks, a rise of over 300%, making operations financially unsustainable.
In a letter to airlines dated April 16, Keyamo urged carriers not to halt services or sharply increase fares, warning that such actions would disrupt travel, harm the economy and undermine ongoing aviation reforms. He said the federal government was “fully aware” of the situation and committed to finding a “prompt, practical and sustainable resolution” through talks involving regulators, fuel suppliers and operators.
The latest developments follow growing pressure across Nigeria’s aviation sector, where airlines say revenues are no longer sufficient to cover fuel costs. Industry representatives have warned that a shutdown would have wide-ranging economic consequences, including reduced connectivity, job losses and disruption to business activity in Africa’s largest economy.
The crisis reflects broader strains in global aviation fuel markets, with rising prices already forcing airlines in other regions to cut capacity or cancel flights. However, the impact is particularly acute in developing markets like Nigeria, where carriers are more exposed to currency volatility and have limited ability to pass higher costs onto price-sensitive passengers.
Meanwhile, local media outlets reported that the Dangote refinery in Nigeria has been exporting jet fuel to Europe and the UK as airlines there scramble for fuel after Middle East supplies were cut off due to the Iran conflict. This development will no doubt add to cost pressures faced by local airlines looking to source the same jet fuel.