The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has set a benchmark range for Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), also known as Jet A1 fuel, at ₦1,960 to ₦2,800 per litre, as concerns mount over rising operating costs in the aviation sector.
The move follows sharp increases in aviation fuel prices, which have significantly impacted airline operations, prompting members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to cut flight schedules and threaten a potential shutdown.
In a statement, the Director of Public Affairs at NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, clarified that current nationwide retail prices fall within the stated range.
“The nationwide retail prices surveyed as of 17th April 2026 range between N1,960 per litre to N2,800 per litre”, he said, dismissing claims of prices reaching ₦3,300 per litre as inaccurate.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had earlier intervened in the crisis, but airline operators insist the measures so far are insufficient.
AON has issued a seven-day ultimatum, warning that operations could be halted if urgent steps are not taken to address fuel pricing and availability.
Vice President of AON and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, linked the surge partly to global tensions but argued that local increases are disproportionate.
“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.”
Industry figures highlight the scale of the crisis. The cost of fuelling aircraft such as the Bombardier CRJ 900 and Airbus A220 has risen from about ₦2.1 million per flight in January to approximately ₦7.6 million as of 26 April 2026, representing a 350 per cent increase.
In response, airlines are beginning to scale back operations.
Ibom Air confirmed it may reduce flight frequencies as the situation worsens. Its Group Manager for Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, described the situation as critical.
“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.”
She noted that airlines are increasingly unable to sustain operations solely to offset fuel expenses, warning that the pricing regime has created an “unprecedented crisis” for domestic carriers.
To ease supply challenges, NMDPRA said it has directed fuel marketers to sell directly to airlines, eliminating intermediaries and improving transparency in the supply chain.
The authority added that it will continue monitoring the situation closely to prevent supply disruptions and profiteering, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining energy security.
Despite increased local refining capacity, including supply from the Dangote Refinery, airlines argue that domestic prices remain significantly higher than global benchmarks.
With tensions persisting, stakeholders warn that without swift intervention, Nigeria’s aviation sector could face further disruptions, including reduced flight availability and rising ticket costs.
