Former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, has warned that Nigeria’s aviation fuel market risks slipping into a monopoly as fewer marketers continue importing Jet A1.

Speaking at the Gateway Colloquium in Lagos, Aisuebeogun said the shrinking number of suppliers could hand market control to a single dominant player, leading to higher prices and unstable supply.

“If we allow just a few players to dominate, airlines and passengers will ultimately bear the cost,” he said.

Stakeholders also decried the neglect of the 98-kilometre pipeline connecting Atlas Cove to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. They noted that restoring the pipeline would cut trucking costs, ease road congestion, and make fuel delivery more efficient.

Currently, aviation fuel prices range between ₦1,180 and ₦1,550 per litre, a key factor driving up airfares and straining airline finances. Experts urged the government to rehabilitate key infrastructure, strengthen regulation, and expand domestic refining capacity to promote competition and price stability.

The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has pledged to stabilize Jet A1 supply and foster a fair, competitive market.