Economy
Nigerian Airline Operators Issue 7-Day Ultimatum Over Jet Fuel Crisis, Warn Of Flight Shutdown
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Nigeria’s aviation industry is staring at a possible collapse within days as airline operators warn that flight operations may grind to a halt nationwide if the federal government fails to urgently intervene in the escalating aviation fuel crisis.
Operators under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) say the cost of Jet A1 has reached “unsustainable” levels, with prices reportedly surging by as much as 250 percent in Nigeria, far above global increases estimated at about 70 percent.
Industry players say the distortion is pushing airlines to the brink, with operating costs now heavily dollarised while access to credit remains trapped in a high-interest environment reportedly ranging between 30 and 35 percent.
Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema warned after a tense industry meeting that carriers may have no choice but to suspend operations if nothing changes within seven days.
“We are being pushed to the wall. At these levels, no airline can continue to operate sustainably,” Onyema said, adding that carriers may be forced to ground operations if no solution emerges within days.
Onyema said Nigerian airlines are under severe pressure due to a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices, which he argued is disproportionately higher than global trends following the U.S.–Iran conflict.
He explained that while aviation fuel prices typically move in line with crude oil increases, Nigeria has recorded a surge of about 250 to 270 percent, compared to roughly 70 percent in other countries, including elsewhere in Africa.
Onyema said the situation is making airline operations unsustainable and has pushed operators to the brink, prompting urgent discussions between government officials, airline operators, and fuel marketers to find a resolution.
“We have deliberated extensively today, and they have also shared their pain points. We have also shared ours. We are going to go back and wait for the outcome of their deliberations with the regulators,” he said.
“When they do that, we expect that within the next 48 hours, something drastic will be done, because no airline in this country will be able to fly within the next seven days if nothing is done.
“Not because airlines do not want to fly, but because the pricing, not only of our tickets but also of the fuel products we need to operate, may become unsustainable.
“We are already operating under heavy financial pressure, borrowing at 30 to 35 percent interest just to stay afloat, and we cannot continue to spend all our revenue on fuel alone.”
“The good news, as we observed yesterday, is that the President is listening, and this is very encouraging for us. We are hopeful. The country should also be hopeful, because the President, even while we were there, made a call to the honourable minister,” he added.
The warning comes amid a worsening standoff between airlines, petroleum marketers, and regulators over pricing mechanisms for aviation fuel, which operators insist has become artificially inflated through inefficiencies and market manipulation.
A crucial meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), ended in deadlock, with no agreement reached on how to immediately crash or stabilise Jet A1 prices.
Keyamo admitted after the closed-door session that the crisis was threatening the survival of domestic airlines, adding that discussions would continue for 48 to 72 hours in search of a compromise.
He also acknowledged that airlines may be forced to increase ticket prices further if the situation persists, a development that could push air travel beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians already battling inflation and a weakened currency.
Despite the stalemate, the minister said the meeting was held with presidential backing, noting that President Bola Tinubu had been briefed and was monitoring developments closely.
Operators, however, remain unconvinced, insisting that repeated assurances without concrete price relief will not prevent what they describe as an imminent aviation shutdown.
The Black Market Dollar-to-Naira Exchange Rate for 21st May 2026 Can Be Accessed Below.
NOTE: The exchange rate changes hourly. It depends on the volume of dollars available and the Demand. This means…you can buy or sell 1 dollar at a certain rate, and the price can change (high or low) within hours.
The official naira black market exchange rate in Nigeria today, including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates.
Please note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market.
What’s the dollar to naira black market today, 21st May 2026?
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players sell a dollar for ₦11399 and buy at ₦1386 on Thursday, 21st May, 2026, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Selling Rate ₦1399
Buying Rate ₦1386
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Highest Rate ₦1374
Lowest Rate ₦1372
Disclaimer:NEWSRAIN NIGERIA does not set or determine forex rates.
The official NAFEX rates are obtained from the FMDQOTC website. Parallel market rates (black market rates) are obtained from various sources, including online media outlets. The rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday retained its benchmark interest rate at 26.5 percent following the conclusion of its two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, a decision largely anticipated by analysts who expected policymakers to maintain the status quo.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said the committee decided to keep rates unchanged amid caution over global shocks, particularly uncertainties stemming from developments in the United States and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The decision highlights the MPC’s cautious stance as policymakers seek to balance the need to rein in inflationary pressures and anchor market expectations while sustaining economic recovery.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate continued its upward trend in April 2026, rising by 31 basis points to 15.69 percent year-on-year from 15.38 percent recorded in March.
The latest increase marks the second consecutive monthly rise in headline inflation, reversing the disinflationary trend that had persisted for 11 months and pushed inflation down from 34.8 percent in late 2024 to 15.06 percent in February 2026.
“While prevailing inflationary risks may justify a cautious policy posture by the MPC, the CPPE strongly urges the monetary authorities to avoid excessive reliance on monetary policy orthodoxy in managing what is fundamentally a structurally-driven inflation environment,” said Muda Yusuf, chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise.
Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 27 January 2023(Black Market)
The Black Market Dollar-to-Naira Exchange Rate for 20th May 2026 Can Be Accessed Below.
NOTE: The exchange rate changes hourly. It depends on the volume of dollars available and the Demand. This means…you can buy or sell 1 dollar at a certain rate, and the price can change (high or low) within.
The official naira black market exchange rate in Nigeria today, including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates.
Please note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market.
What’s the dollar to naira black market today, 20th May 2026?
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players sell a dollar for ₦11400 and buy at ₦1385 on Wednesday, 20th May, 2026, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Selling Rate ₦1400
Buying Rate ₦1385
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Highest Rate ₦1374
Lowest Rate ₦1370
Disclaimer:NEWSRAIN NIGERIA does not set or determine forex rates. The official NAFEX rates are obtained from the FMDQOTC website. Parallel market rates (black market rates) are obtained from various sources, including online media outlets. The rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article.
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