Aviation stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the escalating cost of aviation fuel, warning that the situation could jeopardise preparations for the 2026 Hajj and disrupt the airlift of thousands of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The President of the Concerned Aviation Stakeholders, Bukalti Gamawa, raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday, describing the surge in Jet A1 prices as a major threat to the logistics and financial viability of the Hajj operation.
Gamawa attributed the spike in fuel costs to global tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, noting that the conflict has driven up global oil prices and impacted aviation markets worldwide.
According to stakeholders, aviation fuel prices in Nigeria have risen by over 300 per cent in recent months, forcing some airlines to scale down operations while others consider suspending services altogether.
They warned that airlines contracted for the 2026 Hajj may struggle to meet obligations, particularly as many depend on leased aircraft to handle the large volume of pilgrims.
“Much of their projected profit margin has already been wiped out. In some cases, airlines may end up operating at break-even or even at a loss, effectively flying ‘for free’ after covering lease and operational costs,” the statement read.
The group cautioned that without urgent intervention, some carriers may be unable to commence or sustain operations, especially return flights from Saudi Arabia.
Although government subsidies for Hajj operations have been discontinued, stakeholders are urging authorities to consider emergency measures such as fuel price stabilisation, foreign exchange support, or special supply arrangements to avert a crisis.
Gamawa warned that failure to act could lead to record-high Hajj fares or significant operational disruptions.
“When Hajj contracts were signed, Jet A1 was about ₦1,000 per litre in Nigeria. Today, it is as high as ₦3,000 across major departure points including Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto, and Birnin Kebbi,” he said.
He explained that the cost implications are substantial, noting that a single aircraft consuming about 70,000 litres of fuel per trip would now incur up to ₦196 million in fuel costs, compared to about ₦70 million at previous rates.
“This represents an additional burden of over ₦100 million per flight,” he added.
Stakeholders also highlighted the challenge of rising fuel prices on the Saudi leg of the journey, where costs have reportedly more than doubled from $0.68 to about $1.40 per litre.
They stressed that while domestic interventions may ease outbound flights, airlines must still purchase fuel at international market rates in foreign currency for return trips.
“This creates a double burden, high costs in Nigeria and even higher costs in Saudi Arabia,” the statement noted.