At the CITA Energies Colloquium held today Thursday October 29, 2025, aviation expert and former managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun outlines a bold roadmap to secure Nigeria’s aviation fuel future through infrastructure reform, policy consistency, and sustainable innovation.
In a thought-provoking keynote address titled “Navigating the Storm: Charting a Safe Harbor for Nigeria’s Aviation Fuel Industry”, renowned aviation specialist
Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun highlighted the urgent need to reform the nation’s aviation fueling ecosystem, anchoring it on local refining capacity, sound regulation, and long-term sustainability.
Aisuebeogun delivering his keynote address at the CITA Energies Colloquium on Thursday described the aviation fueling sector as “the very lifeblood of aviation safety, reliability, and economic resilience”. He emphasised that the discussions at the colloquium were not just about fuel, but about the strategic future of Nigeria’s aviation industry itself.
Turbulence and Opportunity
Drawing on the colloquium’s theme, “Navigating the Storm”, Aisuebeogun likened the current state of Nigeria’s aviation fuel market to turbulent weather fraught with challenges but ripe with opportunity for reform.
He pinpointed three pressing issues undermining the sector: supply chain instability, import dependency, and volatile pricing. Despite Nigeria’s oil-producing status, he noted, the country still relies heavily on imported Jet A-1, exposing airlines and suppliers to foreign exchange fluctuations and unpredictable costs.
“Jet fuel accounts for a significant portion of airline operating expenses”, he said. “When fuel becomes unstable, the entire aviation value chain feels the shockwaves”.
He also drew attention to the delicate balance between deregulation and fair competition. While Nigeria’s jet fuel prices ranging between $0.60 and $0.85 per litre remain below those in many West African markets, he warned that uncertainty surrounding new domestic refineries could lead to monopolistic tendencies.
“While direct price control is not sustainable”, he cautioned, “regulators must ensure open competition to prevent price manipulation and protect consumers”.
The Promise of Domestic Refining
Despite these challenges, Aisuebeogun pointed to emerging opportunities through domestic refining and infrastructure upgrades. He described ongoing refinery projects and the rehabilitation of existing facilities as “a pivotal shift for Nigeria”, reducing dependence on imports while strengthening supply chain security and product quality.
He highlighted the commissioning of the JUHI-2 (Joint User Hydrant Installation) as a positive example of improved fuel handling and storage efficiency, while calling for further investment in public–private partnerships (PPPs) and modular refineries to increase local Jet A-1 production.
“This transformation aligns perfectly with our national energy strategy”, he said, “and positions Nigeria to become a regional aviation hub”.
Infrastructure and Safety as Core Priorities
Aisuebeogun underscored that safety and quality assurance must remain non-negotiable. Referring to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 18, he reminded operators that maintaining a minimum seven-day storage capacity is both a regulatory and operational necessity.
“Without sufficient storage, consistency is an illusion and without consistency, safety and reliability are compromised”, he asserted.
He applauded recent progress at key airports, including Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos, but urged the reactivation of the 98-kilometre pipeline hydrant system connecting Lagos’ coastal depots to Murtala Muhammed International Airport to further enhance efficiency.
Sustainability and the Future of Aviation Fuel
Looking to the future, Aisuebeogun emphasised that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) represents the next frontier for Nigeria’s aviation industry. He revealed that six national technical working groups are already mapping out a SAF roadmap covering policy, feedstock, infrastructure, and finance.
“By harnessing agricultural waste and local biomass”, he said, “Nigeria can become West Africa’s SAF hub and contribute meaningfully to ICAO’s 2050 net-zero goal”.
He also advocated for a dedicated Jet A-1 regulatory framework, harmonising production, storage, and distribution standards backed by AI monitoring, blockchain traceability, and automated compliance systems to ensure transparency and integrity.
A Strategic Roadmap Forward
Forecasting steady market growth between 2025 and 2030, Aisuebeogun outlined three critical pathways for sustainable success:
1. Invest in future fuels such as SAF and renewable energy.
2. Strengthen safety and quality compliance through robust enforcement.
3. Build consortium-based models encouraging shared infrastructure, joint ventures, and bulk procurement.
He stressed that collaboration among refineries, marketers, airlines, and regulators alongside innovative financing mechanisms from Afreximbank, PAIF, and the Cape Town Convention will be essential to stabilise supply and pricing.
Call to action: “Every Litre a Promise”
“When Nigerians refine, store, and distribute fuel safely, we fuel not just aircraft but our nation’s prosperity. Every litre of Jet A-1 should symbolise a promise that every aircraft departing Nigerian soil carries the strength, reliability, and excellence of our aviation spirit”.
He urged all stakeholders to commit to building a fuel ecosystem that reflects Nigeria’s best qualities — innovation, resilience, and global competitiveness.