AON: Dangote Refinery supplies 95% of Nigeria’s Jet A1, exports 1.1bn litres to Europe

THE Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has hailed the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a major stabilising force for the country’s aviation sector, revealing that the facility now provides more than 95 percent of the Jet A1 fuel used across Nigeria. The group also disclosed that the refinery exported about 1.1 billion litres of aviation fuel to Europe between March and April 20.

Speaking in a televised interview, AON spokesperson, Mr Obiora Okonkwo, said the refinery’s output has been crucial in keeping airlines operational amid global supply shocks triggered by tensions in the Middle East and rising fuel costs.

He stressed that Dangote’s contribution goes beyond supply, describing it as transformative for the industry. According to him, the refinery has effectively become the backbone of aviation fuel availability in Nigeria, significantly easing the burden on local carriers during a difficult operating environment.

Despite this steady supply, Mr Okonkwo noted that airlines are still grappling with intense financial pressure due to soaring Jet A1 prices. He attributed the spike to irregularities within the downstream distribution chain, alleging that some marketers are creating artificial scarcity.

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He explained that even with sufficient supply from the refinery, fuel prices have surged disproportionately, with airlines experiencing increases of up to 300 percent since the Middle East crisis began. This, he said, suggests a disconnect between depot pricing and what operators ultimately pay.

Okonkwo described the situation as exploitative, insisting that the pricing trend does not reflect actual supply realities. He warned that such practices point to possible racketeering within the market.

Following a closed-door meeting between AON and the Nigerian government, President of AON, Mr Allen Onyema, raised concerns, calling the development alarming. The Air Peace boss questioned why prices continue to climb sharply despite the refinery offering comparatively lower rates and some marketers sourcing products directly from it.

He argued that marketers must be held accountable, noting that the scale of the increase is difficult to justify under current supply conditions.

Meanwhile, the refinery is strengthening its presence in the global aviation fuel market. Industry figures show that it shipped about 876,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel to Europe within the period, roughly 456,000 tonnes in March and an additional 420,000 tonnes by April 20.

The export performance highlights the refinery’s growing production capacity and logistics efficiency, positioning Nigeria more prominently in the international downstream oil market while also reinforcing domestic energy security.