Jet fuel: Keyamo seeks calm, calls stakeholders’ meeting

By Dickson Omobola

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Friday, urged the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, not to adjust ticket prices over the rise in jet fuel, saying it would impose significant hardship on the travelling public.

Keyamo also scheduled a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Abuja, bringing together all relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities with a view to achieving a prompt, practical, and sustainable resolution.

This came as the AON and the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN, disagreed over the cost of jet fuel, which has increased since the Middle East crisis.

Keyamo, in a letter titled: ‘Three Hundred Per Cent Increase in Jet A1 Fuel: Appeal for Restraint on Airfare Adjustment and Suspension of Operations,’ dated April 16, 2026, and addressed to AON President, said: “I write in reference to your correspondence dated April 14, 2026, concerning the operational challenges currently confronting your member airlines, especially the sudden hike in Jet A1 fuel from N900 per liter as at February 28, 2026 to N3.300 per liter as at today, representing a three hundred percent (300 per cent) increase.

“At the outset, I wish to commend the resilience, professionalism, and steadfast commitment of your members in sustaining air transport services under evidently difficult conditions.

“Let me reiterate that the administration of President Bola Tinubu accords the aviation sector the highest strategic importance. In line with the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, the sector remains a critical national asset essential to trade facilitation, national security, employment generation, and overall economic integration. You will also acknowledge that the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated unprecedented reforms in the sector aimed at supporting the growth and sustenance of the businesses of local operators.

“In light of the foregoing, I am making the following appeals: First, I urge your members to exercise restraint with respect to any proposed increase in airfares at this time. While the prevailing cost pressures on your operations are fully acknowledged, any immediate upward adjustment in ticket prices would impose significant hardship on the travelling public, potentially depress demand, and limit accessibility to air transport for a broad segment of Nigerians.

“Second, I appeal for the reconsideration of any planned suspension of flight operations. Such action would have far-reaching adverse implications for the national economy, disrupt critical mobility and logistics networks, erode public confidence, and undermine the progress recorded under the ongoing reforms within the aviation sector.

“I wish to formally assure you that the concerns raised by your members have received the full attention of the Federal Government and we shall take immediate steps to address the issues.

“Accordingly, a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in Abuja, bringing together all relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities with a view to achieving a prompt, practical, and sustainable resolution. The venue and time will be communicated in due course.”

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