Nigerian airlines have received approximately 749.2 million litres of aviation fuel between January and August 2026, according to an analysis by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The findings highlight significant fluctuations in domestic fuel deliveries during this period, which are critical for the operational stability of airlines across the country.

The data indicates that the average daily supply of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK) was around 3.1 million litres over the eight-month span. However, this average masks considerable volatility, with daily supplies plummeting to 1.6 million litres in February before recovering to the average in August. This inconsistency in fuel availability has raised concerns among airline operators regarding its impact on flight schedules and overall operational costs.

Flight disruptions have been reported, particularly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, with many attributing these issues to the debts airline operators owe to fuel marketers. The rising cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel has compounded these challenges, with prices soaring from N900 per litre to a peak of N3,500 during the Middle East crisis before stabilizing around N2,500. Airline executives have noted that fuel now constitutes 45% to 50% of their total operating expenses, with costs for a single flight increasing dramatically from N3 million to between N12 million and N13 million.

A detailed breakdown of fuel deliveries reveals that domestic receipts peaked at six million litres daily in January, translating to approximately 186 million litres for that month. However, supplies fell sharply in February, leading to a total of about 44.8 million litres for the month. March saw a slight recovery with 2.1 million litres daily, amounting to 65.1 million litres, while April's figures improved further to three million litres daily.

The upward trend continued into May, with daily receipts reaching 4.3 million litres, but this was short-lived as supplies dropped to 2.5 million litres daily in June. July saw a further decline to 1.9 million litres daily, before a recovery to 3.1 million litres in August, representing approximately 96.1 million litres for that month.

The NMDPRA data also indicates that the domestic fuel supply situation has been highly erratic over a broader 13-month period, with the highest recorded daily receipts reaching 14 million litres in December 2025. This was followed by a dramatic decrease in January and February 2026, underscoring the unpredictable nature of fuel availability in Nigeria.

While the August recovery in fuel deliveries suggests an improvement from the previous month, the figures alone do not provide a complete picture of the overall availability of jet fuel. They do not account for imported fuel, fuel held in storage, or actual airline consumption, which are all critical factors in assessing the aviation fuel landscape.

As the aviation industry continues to grapple with these supply challenges, the need for a consistent and reliable fuel supply remains paramount. The ongoing volatility in jet fuel availability poses significant risks to the operational viability of airlines in Nigeria, highlighting the urgent need for a more stable fuel supply framework.