Aviation professionals and oil sector stakeholders have appealed to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to tighten oversight of the rapidly increasing number of aviation fuel marketers operating in the country. They cautioned that the unchecked expansion of marketers has encouraged black market practices and could endanger air safety.
Experts noted that the aviation fuel supply chain once had only six approved marketers, but that figure has now surged to about 45. This sharp rise, they argued, has raised questions about the consistency and reliability of fuel quality being supplied to airlines. They called for immediate intervention by the NCAA to prevent potential safety lapses and restore confidence in the industry.
At a stakeholders’ forum organised by CITA Energies over the weekend, the company’s Managing Director, Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe, decried the imbalance between the number of marketers and the available airlines in Nigeria. He stressed that while market expansion may appear positive, the lack of strong regulatory control has created an environment vulnerable to malpractice. “Our industry is expanding, but we are suffering from poor regulation,” he said. “In the past, we had about six fuel marketers; today, there are roughly 45. While that may seem progressive, it’s creating challenges in maintaining product quality.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ndano Energy and former Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, voiced concern over the rise of black market activities in aviation fuel trading. He warned that if the issue is not urgently addressed, it could have grave implications for flight safety. Ndulue explained that low entry barriers into the aviation fuel business have encouraged the emergence of inexperienced marketers, some of whom are involved in illegal fuel diversion and sales.
He urged the NCAA to strengthen its regulatory framework by closely monitoring the entire supply chain from procurement to delivery to eliminate substandard practices. “We’re seeing an increase in black market operations due to the influx of small, unregulated marketers,” he said. “We must ensure that aviation fuel distribution upholds safety, security, and quality standards. The focus should be on effective regulation to guarantee that airlines receive only certified, high-quality fuel.”
Citing examples, Ndulue revealed that some airports host as many as 30 marketers, while smaller airports like Enugu have up to five,figures he described as excessive. He encouraged collaboration among marketers despite past challenges, arguing that cooperation was necessary to maintain safety and sustainability in the sector.
Efforts to reach NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, for comments were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor replied to messages.
Meanwhile, in a position paper obtained by journalists, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) expressed its commitment to improving the aviation fuel sector by ensuring that only qualified and compliant marketers operate within Nigerian airports.
FAAN spokesperson, Henry Agbebire, stated that the agency would partner with regulators to accredit marketers, promote transparency, and encourage collaboration. “We aim to move from competition for volume to cooperation for quality and sustainability,” he said. Agbebire added that FAAN would continue to provide the necessary infrastructure and foster innovation, including early adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, to build a stronger and more resilient aviation fuel ecosystem in Nigeria.
