Fuel Subsidy or Hajj Failure? Aviation Sector Issues Urgent Plea to Federal Government

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Aviation Fuel Hike Threatens 2026 Hajj Operations, Stakeholders Seek Government Intervention

ABUJA— Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation sector have called on the Federal and State Governments to urgently intervene in the sharp rise in aviation fuel prices, warning that the development could jeopardize the successful airlift of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj exercise.

The call was made under the aegis of the Concerned Aviation Stakeholders, who said immediate action was necessary to save the 2026 Hajj operation from what they described as one of the most severe logistical and financial crises in recent history.

President of the group, Alhaji Bulkati Usman Gamawa, in a statement issued on Sunday, expressed deep concern over the soaring cost of Jet A1 fuel, noting that the increase now poses a major threat to airlines contracted for the pilgrimage operation.

According to him, many of the airlines handling the 2026 Hajj airlift are expected to lease additional aircraft to meet capacity demands, but the current spike in fuel prices on both the outbound and return legs has significantly eroded their projected profit margins.

“In some cases, airlines may end up operating at break-even point or even at a loss, effectively flying ‘for free’ after covering lease and operational expenses,” Gamawa said.

He warned that if urgent measures are not taken, some carriers may find it financially impossible to commence operations from Nigeria or sustain return flights from Saudi Arabia.

Gamawa explained that while Jet A1 was previously benchmarked at about ₦1,000 per litre in Nigeria and around $0.68 per litre in Saudi Arabia at the time contracts were signed, current prices have risen sharply.

He said fuel is now selling for as much as ₦3,000 per litre in some Nigerian cities, representing a 200 percent increase from the original price used in contract projections.

“This sharp rise has placed airlines in a difficult financial position. If they are forced to absorb the increased fuel cost, many may operate at a loss. If pilgrims are made to absorb it, Hajj fares will rise sharply,” he stated.

For a single aircraft consuming approximately 70,000 litres of Jet A1 per flight, Gamawa said the fuel bill at the old rate stood at about ₦70 million, but at the current price of ₦2,500 per litre, it rises to ₦175 million.

He added that in cities such as Maiduguri, Sokoto, Yola, and Kebbi, where fuel costs can reach ₦2,800 per litre, the cost per flight may rise to nearly ₦196 million, creating an additional burden of over ₦126 million per trip.

According to him, this places enormous financial strain on airlines and could have serious implications for the overall cost of the 2026 Hajj operation.

Gamawa further noted that even if the Nigerian government or local suppliers succeed in stabilising Jet A1 prices for outbound flights to Jeddah or Medina, the return leg remains a significant challenge.

He said airlines bringing pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia would still have to purchase fuel at prevailing international market rates in foreign currency.

“The price of Jet A1 on the Saudi side has reportedly risen from around $0.68 per litre at the time the Hajj contract was signed to approximately $1.40 per litre, representing more than a 105 percent increase in dollar terms,” he said.

He therefore called for swift intervention through emergency support mechanisms, strategic fuel supply arrangements, and policy measures to prevent the operation from collapsing.

Without urgent government action, he warned, the 2026 Hajj exercise may witness one of the highest fare increases in history, or, in the worst-case scenario, operational failure.