The leadership of the house of representative yesterday resolved to summon the director general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, oil marketers, and Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON) for meeting with the deputy speaker of the house, Mr. Ahmed Wase and the chairmen of committees on aviation, petroleum upstream and downstream today.
At issue is the cost of aviation fuel which sells between ₦590 and ₦625 per litre when it is available.
The summons was sequel to a motion urgent public importance sponsored by the chairman, house committee on aviation, Mr. Nnolim Nnaji.
The motion was entitled ‘Urgent need to investigate/intervene on the sudden scarcity and high cost of aviation fuel which has created an existential threat to airline operations and requires immediate intervention by the federal government.”.
Presenting, Nnaji observed that the current crisis in Eastern Europe has created so much global tension and has raised the cost of crude oil to over $125.
He further noted that the situation was worsened by the fact that, “Nigeria imports Jet-A1, (aviation fuel) used by airlines for their flight operations and it’s astronomical hike can impede on airlines’ services”.
He also disclosed that the product which was sold for N190 a litre in 2021 had risen to above N600 a litre.
“To make matters worse, the oil marketers are alleged to be demanding for upfront cash payments from the airlines,” he added.
The lawmaker also noted that if urgent steps were not immediately taken to salvage the situation, airlines and passengers would continue to suffer several consequential economic and travel crises that might lead to total shutdown of air transport services.
