The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has sounded a strong warning over the persistent shortage of Jet A1 aviation fuel in Nigeria, cautioning that the crisis is beginning to threaten passenger safety, airline operations, and the long-term survival of domestic carriers.
The union said the prolonged scarcity of aviation fuel has created severe operational disruptions across the country’s aviation sector, resulting in flight delays, extended crew working hours, route adjustments, and mounting financial pressure on airline operators already battling harsh economic realities.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, described the situation as a growing national concern that requires immediate intervention from the Federal Government and all relevant stakeholders within the aviation and petroleum sectors.
According to him, the ongoing Jet A1 shortage has gone beyond a routine supply challenge and is now creating conditions capable of undermining critical safety standards within the aviation industry.
Gindeh warned that persistent flight delays and disruptions caused by fuel shortages are forcing pilots and technical crew members to remain on duty far longer than originally scheduled, thereby increasing the risk of fatigue-related errors.
“The persistent disruptions to flight schedules occasioned by the Jet A1 supply shortfall have resulted in significant extensions of crew duty time beyond planned parameters,” he said.
“Fatigue impairs cognitive function, slows reaction time, and, most dangerously, erodes situational awareness.”
He stressed that fatigue among pilots and engineers remains one of the most dangerous threats to aviation safety globally, noting that prolonged duty periods can affect judgement, communication, concentration, and emergency response during flight operations.
The NAAPE president called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), fuel marketers, and other stakeholders to urgently resolve the crisis before it escalates further.
“We hereby call on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), fuel suppliers, and all relevant stakeholders to treat the resolution of this Jet A1 supply crisis as a matter of urgent national priority,” Gindeh stated.
The warning comes at a difficult period for Nigeria’s aviation industry, where domestic airlines continue to struggle with high operational costs, foreign exchange volatility, aircraft maintenance expenses, airport infrastructure limitations, and fluctuating aviation fuel prices.
Industry observers say aviation fuel remains one of the single largest expenses for Nigerian airlines, accounting for a substantial percentage of total operational costs.
In recent years, operators have repeatedly complained about the instability in Jet A1 pricing and supply, which has been worsened by dependence on imported petroleum products and foreign exchange challenges.
Although Nigeria has continued efforts to improve local refining capacity, stakeholders insist that stable pricing and reliable nationwide distribution of aviation fuel have yet to be achieved.
NAAPE also warned that the economic consequences of the fuel shortage are beginning to spread across airline operations and staff welfare systems.
According to the union, grounded aircraft and delayed flights are depriving airlines of revenue while fixed operational costs such as aircraft maintenance, insurance, staff salaries, and airport charges continue to accumulate.
“Grounded or delayed aircraft generate no revenue, yet fixed operational costs persist,” Gindeh noted.
He added that the financial strain on operators is increasingly affecting aviation workers through delayed salaries, worsening welfare conditions, and heightened workplace stress among pilots, engineers, and other technical personnel.
The union further expressed concern over the future viability of some domestic airlines if the situation remains unresolved.
NAAPE pointed to recent operational adjustments by airlines, including route reductions announced by Rano Air, as signs that pressure within the sector is intensifying.
“Should the situation remain unaddressed, we anticipate further route suspensions, potential cessation of operations by some carriers, and significant job losses across the aviation sector,” Gindeh warned.
Analysts believe the warning by NAAPE highlights a broader structural problem within Nigeria’s aviation industry, where recurring fuel supply instability continues to expose vulnerabilities in airline operations and sector-wide planning.
They noted that while passengers directly experience delays and cancellations, the hidden consequences include pressure on aircraft maintenance schedules, reduced operational efficiency, and increased stress on flight and engineering crews responsible for ensuring safe operations.
Experts also warn that prolonged instability in flight schedules could weaken public confidence in domestic air travel, affect business mobility, and disrupt sectors dependent on reliable air transportation, including tourism, logistics, commerce, and trade.
The latest intervention by NAAPE has now intensified calls for stronger collaboration between aviation regulators, petroleum authorities, airlines, and fuel suppliers to stabilise the supply of Jet A1 and protect the sustainability of the industry.
Stakeholders insist that beyond addressing the immediate fuel shortage, Nigeria must also develop long-term strategies capable of guaranteeing a more predictable operating environment for airlines and safeguarding the future of a sector widely regarded as essential to national economic growth and connectivity.
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