The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has refuted claims that aviation fuel (Jet A1) is selling for N3,300 per litre, describing such reports as inaccurate and inconsistent with current market data.
In a statement released on Friday, signed by NMDPRA Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita, the Authority said that though fuel prices have gone up in recent times, the widely circulated figure for aviation fuel does not reflect the market price.
It said the actual market prices are substantially lower than the N3,300 claim.
According to the NMDPRA, the current ex-gantry price of aviation fuel at Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemical Company (DPRP) is N1,879 per litre. It said this is slightly lower than the international indicative supply cost of N1,999 per litre in Lagos as of Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The downstream regulator further stated that its survey of the nationwide retail prices of aviation fuel as of 17th April 2026 indicated that it ranges from N1,960 per litre to N2,809 per litre, depending on location and logistics.
“The prevailing Ex-Gantry price of Aviation Fuel at Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemical Company (DPRP) is N1,879 per litre, which is slightly lower than the international indicative supply cost of N1,999 per litre in Lagos as of the 16th of April 2026,” the Authority stated.
“Meanwhile, the nationwide retail prices surveyed by the NMDPRA as of 17th April 2026 range from N1,960 per litre to N2,809 per litre. Therefore, the speculated N3,300 per litre price of Aviation Fuel being peddled in the media does not reflect current market reality.”
The NMDPRA emphasised that aviation fuel is a fully deregulated product, meaning its price is determined by market forces rather than government control.
The Authority also stated that the country has a robust supply, with a total national sufficiency of 74 days (12 days of inland stock and 62 days of refinery stock).
The NMDPRA’s statement was in response to conflicting claims between airline operators and fuel marketers about the current price of aviation fuel in Nigeria.
Domestic airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had on Tuesday, April 14, issued a letter to Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and the Minister of Aviation, raising concerns about the sudden hike in the price of aviation fuel in the last one month.
AON said Jet A1 is currently at N3,300 per litre, almost a 300 per cent increase from N900 it was sold for in late February.
The operators threatened to suspend flight operations starting Monday, April 20, 2026, if the issue was not urgently addressed, adding that they can’t continue to absorb the rising cost of fuel without adjusting airfares.
However, MEMAN, in its response on Thursday, disputed the claim, saying it is over N1,000 above the normal price and urged airline operators to seek alternative suppliers.
Despite the dispute over the exact price, all parties agree that the rising cost of Jet A1 is placing significant pressure on airline operations.
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The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appealed to airlines to halt their planned shutdown and avoid immediate fare hikes.
Keyamo disclosed that a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled for April 22, 2026, in Abuja to find a sustainable resolution.
In its statement on Friday, NMDPRA assured that it will continue to closely monitor the supply situation and take appropriate regulatory measures to prevent disruption of the supply of petroleum products and profiteering across the country.
“While appreciating the continued efforts of all stakeholders in the Aviation Fuel supply chain in ensuring adequate supply and distribution of the product, the public is hereby assured of NMDPRA’s continued commitment to guarantee energy security in the country,” the statement added.
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