The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has said that ongoing issues in Nigeria’s aviation sector are not linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, but are instead driven by global aviation fuel pricing.

Speaking during a television interview, the association’s president, Alex Nwuba, explained that the industry is currently under pressure due to sharp increases in fuel costs rather than supply shortages.

He noted that airline operating expenses have risen significantly in recent times, with aviation fuel prices reportedly multiplying several times over. According to him, this surge has created a difficult situation for airlines, which are already struggling to adjust ticket prices because passengers’ ability to pay has reached its limit.

Nwuba added that Nigeria is not currently facing a fuel supply problem, pointing to local refining capacity as a stabilising factor. Instead, he said the main concern for operators is the impact of international market pricing, which continues to influence domestic aviation costs.

He also linked recent discussions around possible industrial action by airline operators to the broader financial strain in the sector, describing it as a way of drawing government attention to the worsening economic conditions affecting aviation businesses.

The association maintained that resolving pricing pressures in the global fuel market remains key to easing challenges facing airlines in the country.