Aviation stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene over rising aviation fuel costs, warning that the situation could disrupt preparations for the 2026 Hajj airlift.
The Concerned Aviation Stakeholders, led by President Bukalti Gamawa, raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday, noting that the sharp increase in Jet A1 prices poses a serious threat to the planned transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Gamawa said global instability, including ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, has pushed up crude oil prices, with direct consequences on aviation fuel costs worldwide.
In Nigeria, Jet A1 prices have reportedly surged by over 300 percent, forcing airlines to scale down operations or consider suspending services due to unsustainable operating costs.
According to the stakeholders, airlines contracted for the Hajj operation are already under financial pressure, as many will need to lease aircraft to meet demand while facing significantly higher fuel expenses on both outbound and return flights.
They warned that airlines risk operating at a loss if current fuel trends persist, adding that some may struggle to even commence Hajj operations from Nigeria or complete return trips from Saudi Arabia.
The group explained that when contracts were signed, aviation fuel cost around ₦1,000 per litre in Nigeria and about $0.68 per litre in Saudi Arabia. However, current prices in Nigeria have risen to as high as ₦3,000 per litre in some locations, while Saudi prices have also increased significantly.
Gamawa noted that a single aircraft flying the Nigeria–Saudi route consumes about 70,000 litres of Jet A1, meaning fuel costs per flight have more than doubled compared to initial projections.
He said this has created an additional burden of over ₦100 million per flight in some cases, depending on departure location, placing severe strain on airline operators.
The stakeholders also highlighted that even if fuel prices are stabilised in Nigeria, the return journey from Saudi Arabia remains a major challenge due to payment in foreign currency at prevailing international rates.
They urged the Federal Government to explore urgent policy measures, including possible price stabilisation mechanisms, forex support, or special arrangements with suppliers, to prevent disruptions to the 2026 Hajj operation.
Without intervention, they warned, the situation could lead to sharply increased Hajj fares or operational failures affecting thousands of intending pilgrims.
