Following the high-level technical committee meetings, the Federal Government has officially established a new indicative price framework for Jet A1 fuel. With projections that aviation fuel prices could range between N1,760 and N2,037 per litre. This came following high-level engagements aimed at addressing persistent supply and pricing challenges in the sector.
This directive, issued through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), aims to curb the extreme price volatility that saw costs hit N3, 300 per litre earlier this month.
The projection emerged after a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Airspace Management, Festus Keyamo on April 22 and 23, 2026, involving key stakeholders across the aviation and petroleum value chain. The indicative prices are based on Platts average prices for the period April 17 – 23. Products purchased outside this window may be priced higher due to price volatility driven by the US-Iran war and varying operational costs among operators.
Participants at the meeting included officials from the Ministry of Aviation, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, airline operators, and aviation fuel marketers. The meeting resolved to constitute a technical committee to further examine the issues and propose practical solutions.
Subsequently, the NMDPRA convened the committee on April 24, during which key recommendations were made to stabilise the market and ensure a sustainable supply.
According to the committee, the indicative end-user price of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK) is expected to range from N1,760 to N1,988 per litre in Lagos, and from N1,809 to N2,037 per litre in Abuja.
The pricing benchmark was based on Platts average rates recorded between April 17 and 23. The committee noted that prices may fluctuate outside the stated range due to market volatility, including geopolitical tensions and varying operational costs among suppliers.
To improve distribution efficiency, the committee recommended that the NMDPRA direct marketers to sell aviation fuel directly to airline operators within the specified period. The committee further recommended that marketers consider introducing a 30-day credit window to ease financial pressure on airlines.
Until this latest government intervention airline operators had threatened to suspend their services claiming they were unable to meet the costs due to the high cost of aviation fuel. According to reports the suspension was to have taken effect this Thursday and would have involved all the domestic airlines operating in the country.
