Nigeria Calls on Airlines to Hold Off Flight Suspensions Amid Jet Fuel Price Surge

Nigeria's aviation minister has urged local airlines to refrain from suspending flights or raising fares following threats by carriers to halt operations due to a sharp rise in jet fuel prices. In a letter dated 16 April to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, the minister acknowledged the financial pressure facing carriers but appealed for restraint to avoid wider economic disruption to the country's aviation sector. 

The government has scheduled an emergency meeting with regulators and industry stakeholders in Abuja on 22 April, aimed at finding what the minister described as a prompt and sustainable solution to the fuel cost crisis. The standoff highlights the ongoing vulnerability of African aviation markets to fuel price volatility - a persistent challenge that directly affects air connectivity, ticket affordability, and the broader tourism economy across the continent.