The Federal Government has appealed to domestic airlines to refrain from increasing airfares or suspending operations following a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices.
In a letter dated April 16, 2026, addressed to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, urged operators to exercise restraint amid reports of a planned shutdown of services over escalating costs.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of a reported 300 percent increase in the price of Jet A1 fuel, which surged from ₦900 per litre as of February 28, 2026, to about ₦3,300 per litre.
Keyamo acknowledged the operational challenges facing airlines, commending their resilience in sustaining services under difficult economic conditions. He reiterated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the aviation sector a strategic national asset critical to economic growth, trade facilitation, and national integration.
The minister warned that any immediate hike in ticket prices would impose additional hardship on Nigerians and could reduce demand for air travel. He also cautioned against suspending flight operations, noting that such action would disrupt mobility, weaken economic activities, and erode public confidence in the sector.
He assured operators that the Federal Government is actively engaging with stakeholders to address the crisis and mitigate its impact on the industry.
To this end, Keyamo disclosed that an emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled for April 22, 2026, in Abuja. The meeting, he said, will bring together relevant industry players and regulatory authorities to develop a sustainable solution to the fuel pricing challenge.
