The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers has warned that the rising cost and scarcity of Jet A1, also known as aviation fuel, is increasing fatigue among pilots and engineers and creating safety concerns across Nigeria’s aviation sector.
NAAPE National President, Capt. Bunmi Gindeh, raised the alarm in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, saying the fuel crisis had become a direct threat to flight safety.
According to him, persistent delays, disrupted schedules and operational uncertainty are forcing pilots and engineers to work beyond planned duty periods, increasing the risk of fatigue.
“This translates directly into elevated fatigue levels,” Gindeh said. “Fatigue impairs cognitive function and erodes situational awareness, a pilot’s or an engineer’s most essential tool.”
He warned that passenger safety could be compromised when crew members are required to operate under such conditions.
NAAPE also linked the fuel crisis to growing financial pressure on airlines, saying the burden is being transferred to aviation workers through delayed salaries, reduced wages and job insecurity. Gindeh said workers under financial stress are more likely to be distracted, which could further affect operational safety.
“A workforce operating under financial stress is a distracted workforce,” he said.
The association expressed particular concern over Rano Air’s recent decision to reduce operational routes, warning that more airlines could suspend routes, cut jobs or shut down if the crisis continues.
Gindeh called on the federal government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, fuel suppliers and other stakeholders to treat the Jet A1 situation as an urgent national priority.
“We hereby call on the federal government, NCAA, NMDPRA, fuel suppliers and all relevant stakeholders to treat the resolution of this Jet A1 supply crisis as a matter of urgent national priority,” he said. “Aviation safety is non-negotiable.”
Aviation fuel prices have reportedly risen sharply in recent months, from about ₦900 per litre in February to around ₦3,300 per litre in April. The increase has triggered flight disruptions, higher operating costs and concerns about the sustainability of domestic airline operations.
NAAPE said urgent intervention is needed to protect safety, preserve jobs and prevent wider damage to trade, tourism and national connectivity.
