The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has issued a high-level alert over the persistent scarcity of Jet A1 fuel, warning that the crisis now poses a direct threat to flight safety and the structural survival of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The association stated that the shortage has evolved beyond a simple logistics issue into a critical emergency that jeopardizes both operational standards and the sector’s long-term viability.
Captain Bunmi Gindeh, President of NAAPE, in a news statement expressed “grave concern” over how supply shortfalls are forcing dangerous operational compromises. Central to the association’s alarm is the escalating risk of crew fatigue; as flight schedules collapse, pilots and engineers are frequently pushed beyond planned duty parameters.
Gindeh emphasized that operating under such physical and cognitive strain erodes the situational awareness critical for managing complex flight environments, effectively placing passengers at measurable risk.
The crisis, he noted is also dismantling the industry’s economic foundations.
With aircraft grounded and revenue streams frozen, airline operators are facing severe financial hemorrhaging.
This instability the statement notes has already begun to impact the workforce through delayed salaries and deteriorating welfare, creating a distracted environment that further compromises safety protocols.
The regional impact is already visible. NAAPE highlighted the recent route reductions by carriers like Rano Air as a precursor to a wider industry collapse.
The association warns that without immediate intervention, the sector faces a wave of route suspensions, potential airline closures, and mass job losses.
Such a contraction would ripple through the national economy, stifling trade and tourism.
Calling for “decisive and immediate action,” NAAPE urged the Federal Government and regulatory bodies, including the NCAA and NMDPRA, to treat the fuel supply chain as a matter of urgent national priority.
The association maintains that the long-term viability of Nigerian aviation is now contingent on resolving the fuel impasse before the current operational strain leads to an irreversible catastrophe.
