FG Urged to Restore Lagos Airport Fuel Pipeline

Aviation industry stakeholders have renewed calls on the Federal Government to rehabilitate the long-abandoned aviation fuel pipeline linking the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos to Nigeria’s refineries.

The 98-kilometre pipeline, which has been dormant since it ruptured in 1992, was originally designed to transport Jet A1 fuel directly to the Lagos airport. Its neglect has forced airlines to rely on fuel supply through road tankers , a method experts describe as costly, unsafe, and inefficient.

According to aviation experts, including Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) and Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe of CITA Energies Ltd, the restoration of the pipeline would drastically reduce logistics costs, minimise road congestion, and improve aviation safety. They noted that hundreds of fuel trucks currently ply Lagos roads daily to deliver fuel to the airport, contributing to traffic and environmental pollution.

The experts also argued that with the recent commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries, restoring the pipeline would ensure a steady and affordable supply of aviation fuel, thereby reducing airlines’ operational costs and stabilising airfares.

They urged the government to prioritise the rehabilitation project as part of broader efforts to modernise aviation infrastructure, promote efficiency, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional aviation hub.

Oshuniran Sheriff Ola