The Federal Government has moved to prevent a total collapse of the domestic aviation sector as President Bola Tinubu intervened in the escalating aviation fuel crisis.

In a high-level emergency meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Abuja, the government announced plans to grant a generous debt waiver to domestic airlines to cushion the impact of a staggering 300% hike in the price of Jet A1 fuel.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed that the President mandated the ministry to submit a formal request for a significant discount on debts owed by airlines to key aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

This decision comes after the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) warned of a nationwide flight suspension following the jump in fuel prices from ₦900 per liter in February to ₦3,300 per liter by mid-April.

During the stakeholders’ meeting, Keyamo expressed the President’s appreciation for the resilience of local operators, particularly their restraint in not passing the full weight of the fuel hike onto passengers through astronomical airfare increases.

The Minister noted that the debt waiver is intended to provide immediate financial breathing room for airlines whose operational costs have become unsustainable due to fuel expenses now accounting for a disproportionate share of their revenue.

Beyond the debt relief, President Tinubu has also ordered the formation of a specialized committee to review and potentially eliminate various taxes, levies, and fees currently charged on domestic flight tickets. This move aims to provide a long-term solution to the high cost of air travel in Nigeria and ensure the sector remains a viable driver of economic integration and national security.

The intervention has led to a temporary de-escalation of the planned strike by airline operators. While a one-on-one meeting between the President and the AON is expected in the coming days to discuss access to capital and broader structural reforms, the government’s swift action has, for now, averted a total shutdown of the nation’s airspace.