The Federal Government has appealed to the Airline Operators of Nigeria to exercise restraint in increasing airfares and to reconsider any planned suspension of operations following a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the appeal in a letter dated April 16, 2026, in response to concerns raised by airline operators over the sudden increase in the price of Jet A1 fuel from N900 per litre in February to N3,300 per litre.
Keyamo acknowledged the operational challenges facing domestic carriers and commended their resilience in sustaining services under difficult conditions.
He, however, warned that an immediate increase in ticket prices would place additional burden on passengers, reduce demand, and limit access to air travel for many Nigerians.
ADVERTISEMENT
The minister also cautioned against any move to suspend flight operations, noting that such action would have wide-ranging implications for the economy, disrupt mobility and logistics, and erode public confidence in the aviation sector.
He reaffirmed that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers aviation a strategic sector critical to national development, trade, security, and job creation, adding that ongoing reforms are aimed at supporting local operators.
Keyamo assured stakeholders that the Federal Government is actively addressing the concerns raised and has scheduled a high-level emergency meeting for April 22 in Abuja to seek practical and sustainable solutions.
He said the meeting would bring together key stakeholders and regulators to resolve the issues affecting the sector and ensure continued stability in air transport services.
