Experts Raise Alarm Over Surge in Aviation Fuel Marketers

Aviation and oil industry experts have called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to urgently regulate the growing number of aviation fuel marketers, warning that the proliferation of operators poses significant safety and quality risks to the aviation industry.

The stakeholders, speaking at a forum organised by CITA Energies over the weekend, said the number of aviation fuel marketers in Nigeria has increased from six to about 45, a trend they described as unhealthy and potentially dangerous if not properly controlled.

They expressed concern that the rapid expansion of fuel marketers has encouraged the emergence of black market sales, raising doubts about the quality and authenticity of Jet A-1 fuel supplied to airlines.

Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe, Managing Director of CITA Energies, warned that the situation, if unchecked, could compromise aviation safety.

“Our industry is growing, but we are groaning due to inadequate control. We used to have about six fuel marketers; now, we have about 45. While competition can be good, it has created challenges with the quality of the product,” Ogungbangbe said.

Also speaking, Chris Ndulue, Chairman of Ndano Energy and former Managing Director of Arik Air, expressed concern about the rise of an aviation fuel black market. He noted that low entry barriers have led to the influx of inexperienced marketers, some of whom allegedly divert or adulterate aviation fuel for resale.

“The black market is expanding as we see a multiplicity of small marketers. People are jumping into the business without proper oversight. We need regulations that guarantee safety, security, and quality in the aviation fuel supply chain,” Ndulue said.

Ndulue urged the NCAA to tighten its oversight of the entire fuel supply chain, from procurement to delivery, to ensure that only certified and compliant operators are allowed to distribute aviation fuel across Nigerian airports.

He further noted that some airports have as many as 30 marketers, citing Enugu Airport, where at least five operators currently sell fuel — a number he described as excessive given the volume of flight operations there.

Efforts to obtain a response from NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, were unsuccessful as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages.

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in a position paper obtained by The PUNCH, pledged to work with regulators to streamline and accredit aviation fuel marketers, ensuring that only competent and compliant operators remain active in the sector.

FAAN’s spokesperson, Henry Agbebire, said the agency aims to foster collaboration among marketers and shift the industry focus from competition for market share to cooperation for quality and sustainability.

“We will work with regulators to accredit fuel marketers, ensuring only competent players operate at our airports,” Agbebire said. “The market must be guided by shared standards, not fragmented rivalry. FAAN will continue to provide enabling infrastructure and promote innovation, including the early exploration of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in partnership with forward-thinking marketers.”

According to Agbebire, FAAN’s broader goal is to make Nigeria’s aviation fuel ecosystem stronger, cleaner, and more resilient, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and transparency.