Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation sector have called on the federal and state governments to urgently intervene over the spike in aviation fuel prices threatening the successful airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj.
The stakeholders on the aegis of Concerned Aviation Stakeholders, said something needs to be done immediately to save the 2026 Hajj operation from one of the most severe logistical and financial challenges in recent history following the rising cost of aviation fuel.
President of the group, Alhaji Bukalti Usaman Gamawa, who made the call in a statement Sunday, noted that the skyrocketing cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel had continued to threaten the airlift of thousands of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Many of the airlines contracted for the 2026 Hajj operations are expected to lease aircraft to meet capacity demands. With the current fuel price increase on both legs, much of their projected profit margin has already been wiped out.
“In some cases, airlines may end up operating at break-even or even at a loss, effectively flying “for free” after covering lease and operating expenses. If urgent action is not taken, some airlines may find it financially impossible to even commence operations from Nigeria or sustain return operations from Saudi Arabia,” he said.
He stated further that although the federal and state governments no longer provide direct subsidies for hajj operations in Nigeria, stakeholders believe that urgent policy measures, pricing regulation, forex support, or strategic fuel supply arrangements may be necessary to prevent the operation from collapsing.
Gamawa added that 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.
He stated: “In simple terms, the soaring cost of Jet A1 on both the Nigerian and Saudi sides is the clearest reason why Hajj fares are expected to rise sharply in 2026. When Hajj contracts were negotiated and signed, Jet A1 was selling at approximately ₦1,000 per litre in Nigeria, while the average price on the Saudi side was around $0.68 per litre.
“Airlines structured their fares, logistics, and operational plans around these benchmarks. Today, however, the situation has changed dramatically. Across major departure points such as Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto and Birnin Kebbi, Jet A1 is now being sold for as much as ₦3,000 per litre, representing a 200% increase from the original price used in contract projections.”