The Federal Government has urged members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to exercise restraint in increasing airfares and to reconsider any plans to suspend operations following a sharp rise in aviation fuel costs.
In a letter dated April 16, 2026, addressed to the President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, acknowledged the operational challenges facing airlines, particularly the spike in Jet A1 fuel prices.
According to the minister, the cost of Jet A1 has surged from ₦900 per litre as of February 28, 2026 to ₦3,300 per litre, representing a 300 per cent increase.
Keyamo commended airline operators for maintaining services under difficult conditions, noting that the aviation sector remains a critical national asset for trade, security, and economic integration under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He, however, urged operators to avoid immediate fare increases, warning that such action could impose hardship on Nigerians and reduce access to air travel.
“Any immediate upward adjustment in ticket prices would impose significant hardship on the travelling public and potentially depress demand,” he said.
The minister also appealed to airlines to reconsider any plans to halt operations, stressing that such a move could disrupt logistics networks, weaken public confidence, and undermine ongoing reforms in the aviation sector.
He assured operators that the Federal Government is actively addressing their concerns and has scheduled a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting for April 22, 2026, in Abuja.
The meeting is expected to bring together key industry players and regulators to find a practical and sustainable solution to the crisis.
Keyamo reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the aviation sector, emphasising its strategic importance to national development and economic growth.
Arise News
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