NMDPRA Sets Aviation Fuel Price At N2,037 Per Litre In Abuja To Curb Market Volatility

The NMDPRA pegs Abuja jet fuel at N2,037 per litre and mandates direct sales to airlines to stabilize the market. Learn more about the new pricing bands.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 4:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Nation Newspaper

New Price Benchmarks Established For Jet Fuel

In a major move to stabilize Nigeria’s aviation sector, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has established new price caps for aviation fuel. Effective immediately, the price in Abuja is pegged at N2,037 per litre, while Lagos operators will see a price band ranging between N1,760 and N1,988 per litre. These benchmarks are based on Platts average prices recorded in late April 2026. The authority warned that these rates are indicative and subject to international market fluctuations, but they serve as a critical baseline to prevent the inflated costs currently plaguing the industry.

Direct Sales Mandate To Eliminate Supply Middlemen

To improve supply chain efficiency, the NMDPRA has issued a directive requiring energy marketers to sell fuel directly to airline operators. This measure is specifically designed to bypass middlemen who have been accused of inflating prices and creating artificial scarcities. By streamlining the distribution process, the regulator expects to see improved transparency and faster access to fuel at major airports across the country. This shift in the supply model is intended to reduce the overall financial burden on carriers, for whom fuel remains the single largest operational cost.

Shift To Naira For Crude Initiative Proposed

The regulator is advocating for the inclusion of aviation turbine kerosene (Jet A1) under the Federal Government’s "naira-for-crude" program. This policy would allow fuel transactions to be settled in local currency rather than foreign exchange, significantly easing the forex pressure on domestic airlines. By decoupling aviation fuel from the volatility of the dollar, the NMDPRA believes it can foster more predictable pricing structures. The authority is also set to engage with domestic refiners to review premium charges that have contributed to recent price hikes.