Aviation stakeholders have urged the federal and state governments to urgently address rising aviation fuel prices to ease the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.
The group, under the aegis of Concerned Aviation Stakeholders, said immediate action is needed to prevent severe logistical and financial challenges for the upcoming Hajj.
President of the group, Bukalti Usaman Gamawa, made the call in a statement on Sunday, highlighting that the soaring cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel threatens the airlift of thousands of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
“Many airlines contracted for the 2026 Hajj will lease aircraft to meet capacity demands. With current fuel prices, much of their projected profit margin is already wiped out. In some cases, airlines may operate at break-even or even a loss after covering lease and operational costs,” he said.
Gamawa added that without urgent action, some airlines may find it financially impossible to commence or sustain operations.
He noted that federal and state governments no longer provide direct subsidies for Hajj operations in Nigeria. However, stakeholders believe urgent policy measures—such as price regulation, forex support, or strategic fuel supply arrangements—may be necessary to prevent a collapse.
“Without swift intervention, coordination, and emergency action from the government, regulators, airlines, and marketers, the 2026 Hajj operation may witness one of the highest fare increases in history, or in the worst-case scenario, operational failure,” Gamawa said.
He explained that when Hajj contracts were signed, Jet A1 sold for roughly N1,000 per litre in Nigeria and $0.68 per litre in Saudi Arabia. Today, prices have surged to as much as N3,000 per litre locally—a 200% increase—and $1.40 per litre abroad, more than doubling the cost in dollar terms.
“For a single aircraft consuming 70,000 litres per flight, fuel costs could rise from N70 million at contract prices to N175 million today. Even if the Nigerian government stabilises prices for outbound flights, the return leg remains a major financial challenge,” he said.
Gamawa warned that without intervention, Hajj fares could spike sharply, as airlines face a double burden of soaring fuel costs both locally and abroad.
