REVEALED: Nigerian Aviation Faces Fresh Fuel Crisis

There are projections of a fresh fuel crisis, following the revelation of a shortage in supply to the Nigerian Aviation by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

This comes barely a week after the NNPC took charge of the aviation affairs to resolve the fuel crisis.

About three months ago, Investors King reported an increase in the aviation fuel price to N420 per litre as against the initial price of N400.

Investors King explained that the increment took effect without prior notice to the aviation companies, with ticket fares skyrocketing by about 63%.

Also, it was gathered that a lot of travelers had to opt for other options after they discovered that their usual ticket prices had doubled in price.

However, during a meeting with the House of Representatives last week, the NNPC and domestic airlines agreed that the national oil company would supply Jet-A1 to marketers nominated by airline operators for a three-month period at N480 per litre, pending when the carriers would be granted licenses to import the commodity.

Business Day reports that the product cost N598 per litre in Lagos, N642 in Kano, N640 in Kaduna, N627 in Abuja, N635 in Enugu and Anambra, and N628 in Port Harcourt as of Monday.

Also, airlines have already begun delaying flights and raising rates around the country as a result of the impact.

Air Peace, Dana, and United Nigeria Airlines’ economy one-way fares from Lagos to Abuja, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Asaba have climbed to between N55,000 and N70,000.

Air Peace, Azman, and Max Air fares from Lagos to Abuja, Kano, and Kaduna have increased from N50,000 to almost N65,000.

AON’s spokesman, Obiora Okonkwo, said the country’s air transportation operations are being hampered by a continuous occurrence of fuel shortages, which could result in further flight rescheduling and cancellations.

However, he stated that the AON is collaborating with product marketers, the government, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure product availability and proper pricing throughout the country.

“The Airline Operators of Nigeria wish to alert the public of impending disruptions to scheduled flight operations of members of the association. This development is being forced on members by the growing scarcity of aviation fuel popular as Jet-Al.

“The scarcity is impacting negatively on the seamless conduct of air transport operations and would lead to flight rescheduling, and, or, cancellations.

“While pleading the understanding of the flying public in the face of this reality, we also promise to do all that is necessary, and within our powers, to restore normal flight schedules as soon as possible,” he said.