Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has approved a 30% reduction in debts owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies, as part of emergency measures to stabilize the country’s struggling aviation sector, according to Channel Africa. The decision, announced in April 2026 by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, is aimed at easing mounting financial pressure on carriers facing soaring operational costs.
The relief applies to obligations owed to key agencies including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, offering immediate financial breathing room for operators, Premium Times reported. Airlines had warned they could halt operations nationwide as jet fuel prices surged by nearly 300%, pushing the industry toward crisis.
In addition to the debt relief, the president has ordered urgent talks between fuel marketers, airlines, and regulators to agree on a “fair and reasonable” price for jet fuel within 48 to 72 hours. The outcome of these negotiations is expected to be made public, with the goal of stabilising ticket prices and preventing further disruption to air travel.
The intervention follows intense pressure from airline operators, who had threatened to suspend flights due to unsustainable costs. The combined approach of debt relief and fuel price negotiations reflects the government’s effort to avert a shutdown while addressing structural challenges in Nigeria’s aviation sector amid global energy market volatility.
