Concerned Aviation Stakeholders has urged the federal and state governments to intervene in the rising cost of Jet A1 fuel, warning it could derail the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The group's president, Alhaji Bukalti Usaman Gamawa, said the price surge threatens airline operations, as fuel now sells for up to ₦3,000 per litre in Nigerian cities including Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto and Birnin Kebbi. This marks a 200% increase from the ₦1,000 per litre benchmark used when airlines negotiated 2026 Hajj contracts.
Gamawa noted that airlines, many of which must lease aircraft for the pilgrimage, are now operating at break-even or at a loss due to the increased fuel costs on both outbound and return legs. He said the average price in Saudi Arabia was $0.68 per litre when contracts were signed but current pricing on both sides has wiped out projected profit margins. Without urgent action, he warned of record-high Hajj fares or a possible operational collapse.
The group called for policy measures, pricing regulation, foreign exchange support or strategic fuel supply arrangements, even though the government no longer provides direct Hajj subsidies. Gamawa stressed that coordination between government, regulators, airlines and fuel marketers is essential to prevent failure.
Alhaji Bukalti Usaman Gamawa highlights a 200% fuel price jump yet expects airlines to fulfill contracts based on outdated costs, creating an unworkable financial gap. Nigerian pilgrims may face drastically higher fares because the government no longer subsidizes Hajj but offers no alternative support. Airlines are left exposed, forced to absorb costs they cannot meet or risk grounding flights. The 2026 pilgrimage now hinges on emergency interventions that have not been promised.
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