The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, has raised serious concerns over the ongoing Jet A1 aviation fuel crisis.
The body warned that the situation is beginning to threaten flight safety, airline operations, and the stability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
In a statement NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, says persistent fuel shortages are causing widespread flight disruptions and forcing pilots and engineers to work beyond scheduled duty periods, increasing fatigue levels among crew members.
According to him, fatigue remains a major safety risk in aviation because it affects concentration, decision-making, and situational awareness during flight operations.
The association also says the crisis is putting heavy financial pressure on airline operators, as delayed and grounded flights continue to generate losses while operational costs remain high.
NAAPE warns that the impact is already filtering down to workers through delayed salaries, welfare challenges, and growing uncertainty across the sector.
Captain Gindeh notes that some airlines have already begun cutting operations, citing the recent reduction of routes by Rano Air as an indication of the strain facing operators.
He cautions that if the fuel crisis persists, more airlines could suspend routes, scale down operations, or shut down entirely, leading to job losses and wider economic consequences for the country.
NAAPE is now calling on the Federal Government, aviation regulators, fuel suppliers, and other stakeholders to urgently address the Jet A1 supply crisis, insisting that aviation safety and the survival of the industry must remain a national priority.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen