Stakeholders for Nigeria aviation sector don call on federal and state goment make dem urgently intervene for di wahala of aviation fuel price wey dey threaten di successful airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for 2026 Hajj.

Di stakeholders under di umbrella of Concerned Aviation Stakeholders yarn say urgent intervention dey needed to save di 2026 Hajj operation from one of di most serious logistical and financial wahala for recent history, as aviation fuel price dey rise anyhow.

President of di group, Alhaji Bukalti Usaman Gamawa, for one statement on Sunday, note say di way Jet A1 aviation fuel price don skyrocket dey threaten di airlift of thousands of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

"Many of di airlines wey get contract for di 2026 Hajj operations dey expected to lease aircraft to meet capacity demands. With di current fuel price increase for both sides, di profit margin wey dem project don almost vanish.

"Some airlines fit end up dey operate at break-even or even at loss, meaning dem go dey fly 'for free' afta dem don pay lease and operational expenses. If dem no take urgent action, some airlines fit find am financially impossible to even start operations from Nigeria or sustain return operations from Saudi Arabia," e tok.

Di president of di group yarn say although federal and state goment no dey give direct subsidies for Hajj operations for Nigeria again, stakeholders believe say urgent policy measures, pricing regulation, forex support, or special fuel supply arrangements fit dey necessary to make sure di operation no collapse.

Gamawa maintain say without quick intervention, coordination, and emergency action from government, regulators, airlines, and marketers, di 2026 Hajj operation fit witness one of di highest fare increases for history or, for worst-case scenario, operational failure.

E yarn, "For simple terms, di soaring cost of Jet A1 for both Nigeria and Saudi sides na di clearest reason why Hajj fares dey expected to rise sharply for 2026. Wen dem negotiate and sign Hajj contracts, Jet A1 dey sell for around N1,000 per litre for Nigeria, while di average price for Saudi side dey around $0.68 per litre."