The Federal Government has appealed to domestic airlines to suspend plans to halt flight operations following the sharp rise in the price of Jet A1 aviation fuel.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also urged airline operators to reconsider any planned increase in airfares as the government works to address the situation.
Keyamo made the appeal in a letter addressed to the Airline Operators of Nigeria on Thursday.
The move comes amid growing concerns over threats by domestic airlines to suspend operations next week due to the rising cost of aviation fuel.
In the letter, the minister referenced a correspondence from the airline operators dated April 14, 2026, which highlighted the severe operational challenges confronting their members.
According to him, the price of Jet A1 fuel has risen sharply from ₦900 per litre as of February 28, 2026, to about ₦3,300 per litre currently, representing an increase of about 300 percent.
Despite the difficult operating environment, Keyamo commended airline operators for their resilience and commitment to maintaining air transport services across the country.
“At the outset, I wish to commend the resilience, professionalism, and steadfast commitment of your members in sustaining air transport services under evidently difficult conditions,” he stated.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Bola Tinubu to the aviation sector, describing it as a strategic component of the national economy.
He noted that the industry plays a critical role in trade facilitation, national security, employment generation, and economic integration, in line with provisions of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022.
Keyamo also urged airlines to exercise restraint in adjusting ticket prices despite rising operational costs.
“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,” he said.
The minister further appealed to airline operators to reconsider any plans to suspend flight operations, warning that such action could have serious economic consequences.
According to him, a shutdown could disrupt mobility and logistics networks, undermine investor confidence, and reverse progress made through ongoing reforms in the aviation sector.
Keyamo assured stakeholders that the Federal Government had taken the concerns seriously and was already working toward solutions.
To address the crisis, he disclosed that a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled for April 22, 2026, in Abuja to discuss practical and sustainable solutions.
The meeting will bring together relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities within the aviation industry.
Earlier, the Airline Operators of Nigeria had described the recent fuel price surge as “astronomical and artificial,” warning that airline revenues could no longer cover the cost of fuel alone.
The group cautioned that a shutdown of flight operations could lead to job losses, disrupt financial institutions linked to the sector, and heighten insecurity.
It also warned that transferring the cost burden to passengers through higher ticket prices could significantly reduce demand for air travel across the country.
