Nigerian airline operators have ruled out seeking government subsidies, instead urging authorities to ensure aviation fuel is sold at fair and stable market rates to sustain the sector.
Spokesperson for the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Obiora Okonkwo, made the position known during an interview with Channels Television, where he expressed concern over rising and inconsistent aviation fuel prices.
“We’re not looking for any government grant; we’re just saying, let’s have the fuel at a reasonable price,” Okonkwo said.
He described aviation as a critical driver of economic activity, stressing that the sector goes beyond serving elites and plays a central role in enabling commerce and mobility across the country.
“Aviation is a catalyst. It’s an enabler. It’s not just a business of the elite,” he said, adding that policymakers must better understand its broader impact on Nigerians and the economy.
Okonkwo compared Nigeria’s response to the aviation sector during the COVID-19 pandemic with that of other countries, noting that while governments globally prioritised aviation support, local operators received minimal assistance.
“The entire ecosystem of aviation was given about N4 billion, which was insignificant. But we survived, we were resilient,” he stated.
He, however, warned that current challenges, particularly the volatility in aviation fuel pricing, pose a more serious threat to the industry’s survival.
According to him, while some marketers still sell fuel at expected rates, the product often becomes scarce and then resurfaces at inflated prices, creating what he described as a quasi-black market.
Okonkwo cautioned that any disruption in aviation operations would have far-reaching economic consequences, including job losses, financial strain on banks, and broader instability in related sectors.
“When aviation shuts down, the economy shuts down. When operators cannot service their loans, banks will suffer. And when that happens, jobs are lost, and unemployment rises,” he warned.
He called for stronger regulatory oversight and urged fuel marketers to identify and expose those responsible for price distortions within their ranks. He added that airline operators are willing to take collective action, including blacklisting erring suppliers.
“If regulation cannot identify those responsible, marketers should look within and point them out. We are ready to blacklist such players because when we don’t buy, they don’t sell,” Okonkwo said.
