Stabilise Aviation Fuel Price, Stakeholders Urge FG

Stakeholders in the aviation industry, have called on the Federal Government to intervene and stabilise the price of aviation fuel, JET-A1, in the country.

The call was contained in a communiqué which they made available to our correspondent  on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Tide reports that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) met last week in Abuja to deliberate on the high cost of aviation fuel and subsequent threats by  AON to  increase airfares.

However, the meeting was deadlocked causing the stakeholders to seek the intervention of the Federal Government.

The communiqué, which was signed by Mr Alfred Itua, Head of Public Affairs, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, urged the Federal Government to assist the industry to stabilise the price of aviation fuel just as it had done with petrol.

“Nigerians are currently enjoying a stable petrol price and this should be the case in the aviation fuel or JET-AI price,’’ it said.

The stakeholders also urged the Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRA) to continue to monitor the activities of the oil marketing companies to prevent sharp practices and unwholesome price increases.

The communiqué stressed the need for the stakeholders, the PPRA, NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), AON, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the CPC to further meet on the issue.

“A further meeting of the stakeholders of the above relevant organisations under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Petroleum and Ministry of Aviation should be convened.

“This is to address the constant increase in the price of aviation fuel with a view to stabilise the price like the petrol price that is stabilised nationwide,’’ it added.