Dangote Refinery Now Supplies 95% of Nigeria’s Jet Fuel, Saving Local Airlines
By Patience Ikpeme
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has revealed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has become the backbone of the country’s aviation sector, now providing more than 95 per cent of the jet fuel used by local airlines.
While focusing on the local market, the Dangote Refinery is also making a name for itself abroad. New data shows the refinery sent about 1.1 billion litres (roughly 876,000 metric tonnes) of aviation fuel to Europe between March and April 2026.
This shows that the refinery is not only securing fuel for Nigeria but is also becoming a major player in the global oil market.
In a recent television interview, AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo described the refinery as a “lifesaver” that has kept planes in the sky despite global fuel shortages and rising costs caused by trouble in the Middle East. He noted that without this steady local supply, the situation for Nigerian airlines would be much worse.
“It is a fact that over 95 per cent of the aviation fuel used across Nigeria comes from the Dangote refinery,” Okonkwo said. He added that for those running airlines, the facility is a total “game changer” because it provides a reliable source of fuel right here at home.
However, while the refinery is producing enough fuel, airline owners are worried that the prices remain very high. Okonkwo blamed this on “middlemen” and marketers in the distribution chain. He claimed that some marketers are making fuel seem scarce even when it is available, causing prices to jump by as much as 300 per cent in recent months.
“We feel this is exploitation,” Okonkwo stated. He explained that the refinery has plenty of fuel, yet airlines are being forced to pay prices that do not match what is being charged at the fuel depots. He suggested that some people in the market are intentionally hiking prices to make unfair profits.
Echoing these concerns, the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, spoke out after a meeting with the Federal Government. He questioned why ticket prices and fuel costs are so high when the Dangote refinery actually sells its products at lower rates than many foreign suppliers.
“The truth is that marketers must be called to account,” Onyema said. He asked why prices have gone up so much when many marketers are buying directly from the refinery at cheaper prices.
Industry experts say this growing export capacity proves the refinery is working well and helping Nigeria move from being a country that always buys fuel from abroad to one that sells it to the world.
