Keyamo Urges Airlines To Hold Fares, Avert Shutdown Amid Jet-A1 Price Surge

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appealed to domestic airline operators to refrain from suspending services or increasing ticket fares despite the sharp rise in aviation fuel costs.

This comes as operators under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) warn that the soaring price of Jet-A1 fuel has reached unsustainable levels, threatening the viability of their operations.

According to the airlines, the cost of Jet-A1 has surged by more than 300 per cent within less than two months, from about N900 per litre as of February 28 to as high as N3,300 per litre, triggering widespread concern across the sector.

In a letter dated April 16, 2026, and personally signed by the minister, Keyamo acknowledged the severity of the situation while urging restraint from operators. The letter, addressed to the AON president and made available to LEADERSHIP, noted that the Federal Government is actively engaging the crisis.

Keyamo commended the resilience and professionalism of domestic airlines, describing their continued operations under mounting cost pressures as critical to national connectivity and economic stability.

He reiterated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the aviation sector a strategic national asset, vital for trade facilitation, security, job creation, and economic integration.

Citing the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the minister stressed the government’s commitment to ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the industry and supporting local operators.

He specifically urged airlines to avoid immediate fare increases, warning that higher ticket prices would place additional financial strain on Nigerians, reduce demand for air travel, and limit accessibility.

The minister also appealed to operators to reconsider any plans to suspend flight operations, noting that such actions could disrupt critical mobility and logistics networks, weaken public confidence, and undermine recent gains in the aviation sector.

To address the crisis, Keyamo disclosed that a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled for April 22, 2026, in Abuja.

The meeting will bring together key industry players and regulatory authorities to develop practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the sector.

He assured airline operators that their concerns have received the full attention of the Federal Government, with immediate steps being taken to stabilise the situation and prevent further disruption to air transport services.