Passengers at different airports in the country had a bad time yesterday as it was difficult for them to connect flights due to the scarcity of aviation fuel, known as JET A1, which affected the operations of many airlines that had to cancel flights to various cities.
The scarcity which was occasioned by the strike action embarked by tanker drivers affected the supply of fuel to the depot located at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.
Decrying the situation occasioned by the strike action, airline operators who pleaded for anonymity said that this would adversely affect socio-economic activities and subject passengers to untold discomfort.
Presently, JET A1 goes for between N78 and N82 per litre.
There has been an uneasy calm as regards the imminent hike in the price of the commodity, as stakeholders had posited that there is always increase in the price of JET A1 any time there is increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Federal Government had penultimate week increased the price of PMS from N65 to N75 per litre.
The Managing Director of Ramanniyyah Airlines, a new entrant into the aviation industry, Alhaji Muhammed Tukur confirmed the scarcity of the commodity to journalists.
He alleged that most of the operators hoard the commodity to sell to foreign carriers for more money than selling to domestic operators.
He said, �Yes, the commodity is scarce. Only Oando has been supplying fuel, and they have almost run out of the commodity. Another worrisome issue is that some, not all the marketers hoard this commodity only to sell to foreign carriers at exorbitant rates. The scarcity has been on for two days running”
Tukur however expressed concern the impact the scarcity will have on the sector, if not resolved immediately.
“I forsee dislocation in travel plans and outright cancellation of flight if this problem is not tackled promptly. I bet you, you will begin to see disruption in flight services by this evening (yesterday), as most of the operators have already exhausted their reserve”
He called on the new administration of Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua to look into the general problem of fuel scarcity, with a view to tackling them.
Jun52007