Jet A1 Prices Hit N2,230/Litre, Think‑Tank Calls for Six‑Month Fuel Bailout

TL;DR: Jet A1 fuel now sells for N2,230 per litre, far above regulator guidance, prompting calls for daily price disclosure and a six‑month emergency fuel package.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) set a price band of N1,760‑N1,988 per litre for Lagos and about N2,037 for Abuja. Market checks show oil marketers still charging N2,230 per litre, a gap driven by strong demand and multiple middlemen adding margins.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the country’s largest refinery, lists a gantry price—its wholesale rate—near N1,800 per litre. Intermediaries lift that price to airlines, creating the current disparity. Olatide Jeremiah, CEO of Petroleumprice.ng, urged Dangote to publish daily gantry prices to cut opaque mark‑ups.

Airlines feel the pinch. United Nigeria Airlines reports that a typical flight now costs N7.6 million in fuel, up from N2.9 million in January. Capt Ado Sanusi of Aero Contractors echoed the need for a transparent pricing system, arguing that knowing the refinery’s price, landing costs and transport fees would give airlines a reliable benchmark.

In response, the Aviation Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) has asked the federal government to secure six months of Jet A1 at parity prices for February‑April 2026, with a possible four‑month extension. The think‑tank frames the request as an emergency bailout to stabilise domestic carriers amid soaring operating costs.

If the government adopts the proposal, airlines could lock in fuel at prices closer to the regulator’s band, easing cash‑flow pressures and potentially preventing ticket‑price hikes. Without intervention, the current pricing structure may force carriers to curtail routes or pass costs to passengers, threatening the sector’s stability.

Watch for official government response to ASRTI’s request and any regulatory moves to enforce price transparency at the refinery level.