Aviation fuel scarcity hits Lagos airport

Shola Adekola, Lagos - 07.02.2008

Passengers were on Wednesday stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, following scarcity of aviation fuel which hit the operators.

The scarcity was first noticed on Monday and reached its climax on Wednesday with many airlines delaying their flights due to non-availability of the commodity.

Though the cause of the scarcity could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that it might be due to the incraese in the price of the jet A1.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the price of the commodity had been increased two times in the last one month. Following the increase, the commodity, which was sold for between N85 and N90 per litter on the Lagos route last month, was jacked up to between N95 and N100 depending on the marketer.

The issue became more controversial following the difference in the price of the commodity on other routes.

While the price on Lagos route goes for between N95 and N100, the same commodity is sold for N120 per litre on Kaduna route while it is sold for N105 on Enugu route.