In a stark warning that could paralyze air travel across Africa's most populous nation, Nigerian airlines have announced they could suspend all domestic flight operations from April 20, unless the government and fuel marketers urgently address what they describe as an "astronomical and artificial" spike in aviation fuel costs.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), representing around a dozen primarily domestic carriers, has given fuel suppliers an "ultimatum." In a letter dated April 14, addressed to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), AON detailed how Jet A1 fuel prices have skyrocketed.

"Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone, which is only one of many operational expenses incurred daily," AON said in the letter.

At least one domestic carrier has already been forced to ground its fleet since March 13 due to the escalating costs, with AON warning that others will soon follow without immediate intervention.

A crisis far outpacing global trends

While global jet fuel prices have risen amid geopolitical tensions, particularly disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East affecting supply routes, AON argues Nigeria's increase is disproportionately severe and not justified by international benchmarks.

Crude oil prices have risen roughly 30% over the same period, yet local aviation fuel has ballooned far beyond that.

Jet fuel already accounts for 30-40% of operating costs for African airlines, compared to a global average of 20-25%, according to the African Airlines Association.

In Nigeria, where the sector consumed about 2.1 million liters of Jet A1 daily in March, the burden has become unsustainable.

MEMAN has pushed back. In a response dated April 16, MEMAN disputed the airlines' quoted prices, claiming they were more than 40% above a survey-based market average.

The association acknowledged the challenges but pointed to the specialized equipment and handling required for jet fuel distribution as factors driving costs.

As the April 20 deadline looms, attention turns to whether MEMAN and the federal government will intervene, perhaps through price caps, direct refinery allocations, or emergency measures.

AON has framed the threat as a "final appeal," emphasizing patriotism in keeping planes flying thus far. For now, passengers face uncertainty as travel agents are already fielding inquiries about alternatives, while international partners monitor developments closely.

(Edited by CGTN Africa Reporter Halligan Agade, with input from wires)