Fuel marketers in Nigeria have rejected claims that airlines are being charged as much as N3,300 per litre for Aviation Turbine Kerosene (Jet A1), insisting that the figure is significantly above prevailing market averages and does not reflect actual pricing across suppliers.
The dispute comes amid escalating tensions between fuel suppliers and domestic airlines, who have warned of a possible shutdown of operations over rising aviation fuel costs.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), led by President Abdulmunaf Sarina, had earlier raised alarm over what it described as a 300 percent surge in Jet A1 prices, claiming that the product rose from about N900 per litre in February to N3,300 per litre within two months.
The operators accused marketers of exploitation, arguing that the increase far outpaced global crude oil movements, which they said had risen by about 30 percent in the same period.
However, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), through its Executive Secretary Clement Isong, dismissed the pricing allegation, stating that its members do not discuss prices publicly due to competition laws.
MEMAN said its internal market survey shows that the alleged N3,300 per litre price is over N1,000 higher than average market rates, adding that airlines paying such amounts should consider alternative suppliers.
The association maintained that more competitively priced Jet A1 options exist in the market, while also assuring stakeholders that prices are expected to ease in the coming weeks.
MEMAN attributed recent cost pressures to global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, which it said have increased the cost of petroleum products and raised domestic transport expenses by about 50 percent.
The group also defended the higher cost structure of aviation fuel distribution, noting that Jet A1 requires stricter safety, quality control, and logistics standards compared to other petroleum products.
“We must express our surprise at the price of N3,300 per litre stated in your letter,” MEMAN said, adding that operators are free to seek alternative suppliers if they find pricing uncompetitive.
The standoff highlights growing tensions in Nigeria’s aviation sector, where airlines continue to struggle with rising operational costs while fuel marketers cite global market instability and supply chain pressures as key drivers of price volatility.
