Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appealed to airline operators not to increase airfares yet following the recent hike in prices of aviation fuel, also known as Jet A1 fuel.
The minister also appealed to the domestic airline operators to reconsider any planned suspension of flight operations, pointing out that such actions would have adverse implications for the national economy, disrupt critical mobility and affect logistics activities across the country.
The minister stated this in a letter dated Thursday, April 16, 2026, addressed to Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
The minister’s letter was in response to earlier correspondence from AON, where the group expressed frustration over the rising cost of aviation fuel and the burden on local airlines.
The airline operators said the aviation fuel has jumped from N900 as of late February to N3,300 per litre currently, reflecting almost a 300 per cent surge.
AON argued that the current price of fuel makes their operations commercially unviable and therefore threatened to suspend flight operations from Monday, April 20, if nothing is done to address the situation.
Responding, Keyamo commended airline operators for their resilience, professionalism, and steadfast commitment in sustaining air transport services under difficult conditions.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration accords the aviation sector the highest strategic importance and has “initiated unprecedented reforms in the sector aimed at supporting the growth and sustenance of the businesses of local operators.”
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The Minister urged airlines not to implement an immediate increase in airfares, stating that doing so would cause significant hardship for the traveling public.
On proposed flight suspensions, Keyamo appealed to the airlines to shelve any plans to halt operations, warning that a shutdown would have severe negative consequences for the national economy and disrupt critical mobility networks.
“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,” Keyamo stated.
The minister assured the airline operators that their concerns have received the Federal Government’s attention, adding that a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Abuja to address the issues.
He said the meeting will bring together all relevant stakeholders, including airline operators, fuel marketers, and regulatory authorities, to find a sustainable solution to the crisis.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X