Passengers travelling on the Abuja–Lagos route operated by Arik Air are experiencing ongoing flight delays due to a severe shortage of Jet A1 aviation fuel and a sharp rise in prices.
The development was disclosed on Sunday by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Responding directly to a passenger complaint on the social media platform X, Achimugu explained that the delays are tied to persistent challenges in the supply of aviation fuel.
“I empathize with you. There has been a Jet A1 challenge for weeks owing to the war. Airlines even threatened to stop operations, if not for the intervention of the Honourable Minister,” he wrote.
Industry sources say the aviation fuel crisis has been worsened by global supply disruptions linked to the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, which have strained energy supply chains and pushed fuel prices higher.
Since late February 2026, the price of Jet A1 has reportedly surged by more than 270 per cent, putting severe financial pressure on airlines operating in Nigeria.
Earlier warnings from domestic carriers indicated that operations could be suspended from April 20, 2026, if the situation failed to improve. However, airlines decided to continue services following urgent intervention by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation.
Despite the intervention, passengers have continued to report multiple flight delays, leaving travellers stranded and disrupting schedules on one of Nigeria’s busiest domestic routes between Abuja and Lagos.
The NCAA has yet to announce immediate measures to ease the situation, though industry stakeholders are closely monitoring developments in global fuel markets.
Aviation analysts warn that if the fuel supply situation persists, Nigerian airlines may face increasing operational challenges that could further affect flight schedules and ticket prices.
