Members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have raised serious concerns over the worsening Jet A1 aviation fuel crisis, warning that the situation poses serious threats to flight safety and airline operations across Nigeria.
NAAPE, the professional body representing licensed aircraft pilots and aeronautical engineers, said the persistent scarcity of Jet A1 fuel is already taking a heavy toll on aviation safety, airline sustainability, and the welfare of aviation professionals.
In a statement titled “Statement of the NAAPE President on the Jet A1 Aviation Fuel Crisis and Its Implications for Flight Safety and Industry Sustainability”, the association warned that continuous disruptions to flight schedules caused by fuel shortages have forced flight crews to work far beyond their planned duty periods.
According to the statement issued on Sunday and signed by NAAPE national president, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, the prolonged duty hours are exposing pilots and engineers to dangerous levels of fatigue, a condition globally recognised in the aviation industry as a major safety risk.
The association explained that fatigue impairs cognitive performance, slows reaction time, and weakens situational awareness, which it described as one of the most critical tools required by pilots and engineers in managing the complexities of flight operations.
NAAPE stressed that when aviation professionals are compelled to operate under such stressful and exhausting conditions, the safety of passengers and crew members is placed at considerable risk.
Beyond safety concerns, the association noted that the Jet A1 crisis is also inflicting severe financial strain on airline operators.
“The persistent disruptions to flight schedules occasioned by the Jet A1 supply shortfall have resulted in significant extensions of crew duty time beyond planned parameters. “For our members, pilots and engineers alike, this translates directly into elevated fatigue levels, a condition that is universally recognised in aviation as a critical safety hazard. “Fatigue impairs cognitive function, slows reaction time, and, most dangerously, erodes situational awareness, a pilot or engineer’s most essential tool in managing the complexities of flight operations.
“The safety of every passenger aboard is therefore placed at measurable risk when crew members are compelled to operate under these conditions,” it stated.
READ ALSO: NAAPE raises concern over harsh aviation operating environment amid Jet A1 fuel shortage
On the economic impact on operators and members, NAAPE added: “Beyond the immediate safety concerns, the fuel crisis is inflicting significant financial strain on airline operators. Grounded or delayed aircraft generate no revenue, yet fixed operational costs persist. This economic pressure invariably filters down to our members in the form of delayed salary payments, wage reductions, and general deterioration of welfare conditions.”
“A workforce operating under financial stress is a workforce distracted, and distraction in an aviation environment is, once again, a precursor to compromised safety.”
According to NAAPE, delayed and grounded flights continue to generate losses for airlines as operational costs remain constant despite declining revenue.
The body further stated that the economic hardship facing airlines inevitably affects aviation workers through delayed salaries, wage cuts, and deteriorating welfare conditions.
It warned that a financially distressed workforce could become distracted, adding that distraction within an aviation environment is another major factor capable of compromising operational safety.
NAAPE also expressed concern over what it described as early warning signs of operational restructuring by some domestic carriers as a result of the fuel crisis.
The association cited the recent decision by Rano Air to reduce some of its operational routes as evidence of the growing economic pressure confronting airlines.
It warned that if urgent measures are not taken to resolve the crisis, more airlines may suspend routes, scale down operations, or shut down completely, leading to significant job losses within the aviation sector.
The association emphasised that aviation remains a critical driver of economic growth, trade, tourism, and national connectivity, noting that any prolonged disruption in the sector would have far-reaching consequences for the Nigerian economy.
The group therefore, called on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), fuel suppliers, and other critical stakeholders to urgently address the Jet A1 supply crisis.
The association maintained that aviation safety must not be compromised, insisting that the lives of air travellers depend on swift and decisive intervention by relevant authorities.
In a similar warning, another aviation union, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), had on May 1 called for an urgent action to be taken in addressing the Jet A1 issues
Addressing aviation workers at the Lagos Airport on 2026 May Day celebration, the national president of ATSSSAN), Comrade John Ogbe equally raised concerns over the persistent instability in the supply and pricing of Jet A-1 aviation fuel, describing it as a major threat to the sustainability of the sector.
Ogbe urged the government to immediately convene stakeholders to develop a credible intervention framework to stabilise fuel supply and pricing.
“We hereby earnestly urge the Federal Government to urgently engage the stakeholders in the industry to fashion out a credible intervention for the escalating price of Jet A-1. The sky must be kept safe, and Nigerians must continue to fly, especially in the face of our insecurity on our roads,” Ogbe advised.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV