Aviation Minister Keyamo urges airlines to reconsider flight suspension, price increase amid fuel price surge

ABUJA, Nigeria — 17 April 2026 (NPA) — The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appealed to airline operators in Nigeria to reconsider any planned suspension of flights or increase in ticket prices in response to the sharp rise in aviation fuel costs linked to the war in the Middle East.

In a letter addressed to the President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) late Thursday, Keyamo acknowledged the operational challenges posed by the sudden hike in Jet A1 fuel prices — from ₦900 per litre on February 28, 2026, to ₦3,300 per litre as of April 17, 2026, representing a 300 percent increase.

Commending the resilience and professionalism of airline operators, the minister stressed that the aviation sector remains a critical national asset under the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, essential to trade facilitation, national security, employment generation, and economic integration. He noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated reforms to support the growth and sustainability of local operators.

Keyamo urged airlines to exercise restraint regarding fare increases, warning that immediate upward adjustments would impose hardship on passengers, depress demand, and limit access to air travel. He also appealed against suspending flight operations, cautioning that such action would disrupt the economy, weaken logistics networks, erode public confidence, and undermine ongoing reforms.

He assured operators that their concerns have the full attention of the Federal Government and announced a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Abuja, to seek a prompt and sustainable resolution. Details of the venue and time will be communicated subsequently.