Aviation and oil industry experts have raised concern over the rising number of aviation fuel marketers across Nigerian airports, warning that the proliferation could endanger flight safety and compromise fuel quality.
They urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to urgently regulate the number of licensed marketers, citing the emergence of black market sales as a growing threat to the aviation industry.
Speaking at a forum organised by CITA Energies, Managing Director Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe lamented that aviation fuel marketers now outnumber airlines operating in the country. He said the situation, though reflecting market growth, has led to lapses in quality control.
“We used to have about six fuel marketers, but now we have about 45,” Ogungbangbe said. “It’s good for competition, but the challenge is maintaining the right quality standards.”
Chairman of Ndano Energy and former Arik Air Managing Director, Chris Ndulue, decried the growing black market trade in aviation fuel, warning that unchecked proliferation could pose serious safety risks.
He said weak entry barriers have encouraged smaller, unregulated marketers to infiltrate the market, some of whom engage in fuel diversion and illegal sales. Ndulue called for tighter oversight of the supply chain — from procurement to delivery — to safeguard safety and quality.
“The black market is expanding as more unqualified players join the business,” Ndulue noted. “We must prioritise safety, security, and quality over quantity.”
In a position paper, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it plans to work with regulators to accredit only competent players in the Jet A-1 market. FAAN spokesperson Henry Agbebire said the agency will promote collaboration among marketers and support sustainable aviation fuel initiatives.
He added that FAAN remains committed to providing modern infrastructure and ensuring the aviation fuel market operates on transparency, safety, and sustainability.
