By Ngozi Onyeakusi

Stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have been urged to commence local production of aviation fuel in line with the Nigerian content development initiative of the Federal Government.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, who made the call noted that the call became necessary to ensure reduction in high cost of aviation fuel, which account for over 30 per cent of the operational costs of domestic carriers.

“Apart from cost, the supply of the product is sometimes epileptic, resulting in flight disruptions. The production of aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet A1, in Nigeria will regularise supply, bring about reduced cost, which will also translate to lower air fares by airlines,” he said.

The NAMA MD was quoted to have stated this at the annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment forum of PSRG-Richardson Oil and Gas in Lagos, where he spoke on ‘Aviation safety in Nigeria – Challenges, issues and solutions’.

He stated that the high costs of aircraft maintenance was atrocious, largely because these costs were domesticated in dollars.

Akinkuotu, however, noted that efforts were being made by the Federal Government to set up a Maintenance, Repairs and Operations facility as part of strategic plans to reduce capital flight, lower the number of times aircraft leave the country for repairs and lower the cost of maintenance.

According to Akinkuotu, due to the high cost of aviation fuel, it accounts for over 30 per cent of the operational costs of domestic carriers.

“Apart from cost, the supply of the product is sometimes epileptic, resulting in flight disruptions. The production of aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet A1, in Nigeria will regularise supply, bring about reduced cost, which will also translate to lower air fares by airlines,” he said.

The NAMA MD was quoted to have stated this at the annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment forum of PSRG-Richardson Oil and Gas in Lagos, where he spoke on ‘Aviation safety in Nigeria – Challenges, issues and solutions’.

He stated that the high costs of aircraft maintenance was atrocious, largely because these costs were domesticated in dollars.

Akinkuotu, however, noted that efforts were being made by the Federal Government to set up a Maintenance, Repairs and Operations facility as part of strategic plans to reduce capital flight, lower the number of times aircraft leave the country for repairs and lower the cost of