NAAPE Raises Alarm Over Jet A1 Fuel Crisis, Warns of Threat to Flight Safety and Industry Stability
Oru Leonard
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has expressed deep concern over the ongoing Jet A1 aviation fuel supply crisis in Nigeria, warning that the situation poses serious risks to flight safety, airline operations, and the broader economy.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, said the persistent shortage of aviation fuel has led to widespread flight disruptions, extended crew duty hours, and mounting operational pressure on airlines across the country.
According to Gindeh, the fuel crisis is already taking a toll on pilots and engineers, whose work schedules have been significantly affected by repeated delays and operational uncertainties.
“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,” he stated.
He warned that prolonged duty periods could increase fatigue among crew members, thereby endangering flight safety.
“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,” Gindeh added.
The NAAPE president further noted that the crisis is inflicting severe financial strain on airline operators, as grounded and delayed aircraft continue to generate losses while operational costs remain unchanged.
According to him, the economic pressure on airlines could eventually affect workers through delayed salaries, reduced wages, and worsening 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,” he said.
Gindeh also expressed concern over the long-term impact of the fuel shortage on the aviation sector and the national economy, citing recent operational adjustments by some domestic carriers.
“The recent announcement by Rano Air of a reduction in operational routes is a clear signal of the economic damage being wrought,” he stated.
He warned that continued disruptions could lead to additional route suspensions, possible shutdown of airline operations, and significant job losses across the sector.
NAAPE therefore called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), fuel suppliers, and other stakeholders to urgently address the crisis.
“Aviation safety is non-negotiable. The lives of Nigerians in the air depend on decisive and immediate action,” Gindeh said.
