Nigerian Airlines Receive 749 Million Litres of Jet Fuel Amid Supply Swings

Between January and August 2026, Nigerian airlines received approximately 749.2 million litres of aviation fuel, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The supply fluctuated significantly, with daily deliveries averaging about 3.1 million litres but dropping as low as 1.6 million litres in February before recovering to 3.1 million litres in August.

The uneven supply pattern highlights the challenges faced by the aviation industry, where reliable fuel availability is critical for flight scheduling and cost management. Recent disruptions, particularly in Abuja, were linked to debts owed by airline operators to fuel marketers and the rising cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel. At its peak during the Middle East crisis, the price of aviation fuel surged to N3,500 per litre before stabilizing around N2,500.

Fuel now accounts for 45% to 50% of total operating expenses for local carriers, with a single flight that previously required N3 million worth of fuel now demanding between N12 million and N13 million. The data showed that domestic receipts varied widely, with December 2025 recording the highest daily receipts at 14 million litres, while the lowest were 1.6 million litres in September 2025 and February 2026.

Despite the August recovery, the NMDPRA figures do not provide a complete picture of overall jet fuel availability, as they do not include imported fuel, stock levels, or actual airline consumption. Additionally, the natural gas supply averaged 4.963 billion cubic feet per day during the period, with domestic deliveries accounting for about 40.9% of the total. The LPG market saw a shift towards imports in August as domestic deliveries declined.