By our reporter 17.4.2026
Nigeria Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, said it would be catastrophic if airlines in Nigeria halt their operations over rising cost of aviation fuel known as Jet A1.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had threatened to halt operations from April 20 as the price if Jet A1 has skyrocketed to N3,300 per liter from N900.
The airline operators said increasing ticket prices to reflect current fuel costs could lead to reduced passenger traffic, while a shutdown of operations would impact financial institutions, jobs, and national security.
“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,” Keyamo said in a letter to AON leadership.
“Secondly, I appeal for the reconsideration of any planned suspension of flight operations. Such action would have far-reaching adverse implications for the national economy, disrupt critical mobility and logistics networks, erode public confidence, and undermine the progress recorded under the ongoing reforms within the aviation sector.”
He assured operators that their concerns have received the full attention of the federal government and that steps are being taken to address the issues.
“Accordingly, a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in Abuja, bringing together all relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities with a view to achieving a prompt, practical, and sustainable resolution,” Keyamo said.
