Despite the availability of Jet A1 in the country, the soaring cost of the product is putting increasing pressure on Nigerian airlines.

An airline source told The Guardian yesterday that a litre of Jet A1 currently sells for about N2,130 in Lagos and Abuja, while the price ranges between N2,180 and N2,230 per litre at airports outside the two major aviation hubs, depending on the location.

The source said that although aviation fuel was available, the major challenge confronting airlines was the high cost of procuring the product, which he said had continued to drive up their operating expenses.

The source also noted that the situation was particularly difficult for indigenous carriers because most of their revenues were generated in naira while a substantial portion of their operating costs was either dollar-denominated or linked to foreign exchange.

He called on the government to intervene in the situation to prevent total collapse of the operating carriers.

Also, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, confirmed that the product was available in the country, dismissing the allegation of its scarcity.

He, however, agreed that the cost of the product remained a major concern for operators.

Sanusi, who spoke against the backdrop of concerns over Jet A1 availability, said the emergence of the Dangote Refinery had made the paucity of the product difficult.

According to him, Jet A1 currently sells for about N2,000 per litre in Lagos, while the price is slightly higher outside Lagos by approximately N100 per litre.

He said: “I am not aware of the scarcity of aviation fuel in Nigeria. With the Dangote Refinery, how can we experience scarcity of the product locally?

“The only problem is that it is expensive to purchase. Currently, the product goes for N2,000 per litre in Lagos, while it is slightly more expensive outside Lagos with about N100 difference.”

Sanusi also clarified that Aero Contractors was not indebted to aviation fuel marketers, saying the airline had a policy of settling its fuel bills as soon as they were presented.