Aviation fuel scarcity: Reps to meet Mele Kyari, airline operators on Thursday

The house of representatives has invited Mele Kyari, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, over the scarcity of aviation fuel.

The legislators also invited Musa Nuhu, director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Jet A1 marketers and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

The heads of the agencies are to meet with the presiding officer of the house, including Mahmud Gaiya, Musa Adar and Nnoli Nnaji — chairmen, committees on petroleum resources downstream, upstream and aviation, respectively, on Thursday.

The invitation followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Nnaji, a lawmaker from Enugu state, during a plenary session on Wednesday.

TheCable had reported how Nigerian airlines informed passengers to expect possible flight disruptions due to the “prolonged scarcity of aviation fuel” and an increase in the price of the product.

The airlines had said the scarcity has a “serious impact” on their operations.

Speaking on the motion on Wednesday, Nnaji described the hike in the price of the product as “unprecedented”.

“Nigeria imports 100 percent of Jet A1 (Aviation fuel) used by airlines in its flight operations, and its astronomical increase can impede on airline services,” he said.

“This unprecedented increase in the prices of all petroleum products was not taken into consideration in view of the fact that about a year ago, Jet A1 was selling for N190 per litre. The local oil marketers are demanding upfront cash payments before fuelling aircraft.”

Nnaji said if “urgent and immediate” actions are not taken to address the situation, “airlines and passengers will continue to suffer several consequential economic and travel crises that might lead to a total shutdown of air transport services”.

In his remarks, Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house, said the heads of the agencies invited should attend the meeting in person and “not by proxy”.

“Clerk, ensure you communicate to the agencies for a meeting tomorrow at 3 pm so that the issue raised by Nnoli will be addressed in the best interest of our country. Ensure that all of them attend in person, not by proxy,” he said.