Airlines Face Safety Risks Amid Fuel Shortage — NAAPE
By Admin,
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has raised alarm over the persistent shortage of aviation fuel, warning that the situation now poses serious safety concerns and threatens the sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the President of NAAPE, Bunmi Gindeh, described the scarcity of Jet A1 fuel as a growing emergency that has moved beyond routine supply challenges.
According to him, the continued disruption in fuel availability is forcing airlines into difficult operational conditions capable of undermining safety standards across the sector.
“Supply shortages are already creating operational compromises that should worry every stakeholder in the industry,” he said.
NAAPE noted that one of the major concerns arising from the crisis is increasing crew fatigue, as flight disruptions and irregular schedules are stretching pilots and engineers beyond their normal duty periods.
Gindeh explained that prolonged physical and mental strain among flight crew members could weaken the level of alertness required for safe flight operations.
“Operating under intense cognitive and physical pressure reduces the situational awareness needed in complex flight environments and ultimately places passengers at risk,” he reiterated.
The association also warned that the fuel crisis is worsening the financial condition of domestic airlines, with several operators reportedly battling grounded aircraft and declining revenues.
It added that delayed salaries and worsening welfare conditions among aviation workers are creating additional pressures capable of affecting compliance with established safety procedures.
NAAPE further pointed to recent route cuts by airlines, including Rano Air, as an indication of deeper problems facing the sector.
The body cautioned that without urgent intervention, the industry could witness widespread route suspensions, airline shutdowns, and significant job losses.
According to the association, such a development would negatively impact trade, tourism, and other sectors dependent on air transportation.
NAAPE therefore called on the Nigerian Government and regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to urgently address disruptions in the aviation fuel supply chain.
According to the association, resolving the Jet A1 scarcity has become critical to preventing a deeper crisis capable of causing long-term damage to Nigeria’s aviation industry.