Nigerian airlines face fuel scarcity and rising Jet A1 costs

Nigerian airlines are facing severe operational challenges due to high costs and inconsistent supplies of Jet A1 aviation fuel. According to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, fuel prices rose from N900 per litre to approximately N2,500 following geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, representing 45 per cent to 50 per cent of total operating expenses for local carriers.

Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority shows that airlines received approximately 749.2 million litres of aviation fuel between January and August 2026. However, daily deliveries have fluctuated significantly, dropping to 1.6 million litres per day in February before recovering to 3.1 million litres in August.

In addition to high costs, airlines report scarcity and delivery failures by oil marketing companies. To manage shortages, some carriers are forced to carry extra fuel for return trips, sometimes reducing passenger luggage capacity. Financial strain has also led to mounting debts with fuel vendors, resulting in sudden groundings and flight delays. Air Peace founder Dr. Allen Onyema noted that the cost of fuel for a single flight has increased from N3 million to between N12 million and N13 million.