Nigeria’s aviation sector is reeling from an acute shortage of aviation fuel (Jet A1) that has triggered widespread flight delays, cancellations, and service disruptions across major airports in Lagos, Abuja, and other key domestic routes.
The crisis, driven by geopolitical tensions and supply chain constraints, has seen aviation fuel prices surge by over 300 percent since the onset of the US-Israel conflict and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway responsible for one-fifth of global fuel supply.
Airlines operating in Nigeria have warned that the persistent scarcity is severely affecting their ability to maintain flight schedules. Air Peace has already reduced its London-Heathrow flight frequency to three services, while other operators report extending waiting times and rescheduling flights multiple times within a single day.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) threatened a shutdown last week but were prevailed upon by the federal government to suspend the action pending stakeholder meetings. Following discussions with the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and oil marketers, authorities approved a 30 percent discount on debt owed by airlines to service providers, though operators are seeking a total waiver from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Compounding the crisis, the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum, warning that ground handling companies, including SAHCO and NAHCO, may withdraw services from Tuesday, April 28, 2026, over an outstanding debt exceeding N9 billion owed by airlines.
Aviation analyst Fred Chukwuelobe cautioned against “scapegoating” individual carriers, noting that “this is not a crisis created by one airline, nor is it peculiar to Nigeria. It is a global aviation challenge driven by supply constraints, price volatility, and persistent disruptions in the fuel value chain.”
Industry observers warn that without immediate intervention, the aviation sector faces severe operational disruptions.
