• Nigeria outlines plan to produce renewable aviation fuel

• Strategy targets fuel shortages and import dependence in the sector

• Six-part roadmap includes regulation, funding, logistics, and innovation

Nigeria has announced plans to produce renewable aviation fuel in response to persistent shortages of jet fuel. The initiative was presented during a regional workshop held in Abuja and supported by the National Climate Change Council and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Despite being Africa’s top oil producer, Nigeria continues to face challenges in supplying kerosene for aviation. The new strategy aims to reduce this reliance by developing biojet fuel, using a roadmap built around six focus areas: regulation, financing, logistics, raw materials, innovation, and environmental impact.

The effort will be driven by six dedicated working groups, according to Bukola Teriba, regional director at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who called the plan a step toward making Nigeria a leader in sustainable aviation on the continent.

Jet fuel shortages remain a concern for Nigerian airlines. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the country imported about 31 billion naira (about $19.4 million) worth of aviation fuel in the first quarter of 2024. This figure represents an 87% drop compared to the 239.18 billion naira (around $150 million) spent in the fourth quarter of 2023, reflecting a push to reduce dependence on imports.

The shift to sustainable fuel could also benefit the agriculture and industrial sectors, attracting investment in biomass production and building new value chains.

To move forward, the sector will need a supportive regulatory framework, access to local biomass, proper processing infrastructure, and sustained demand from airlines to ensure project viability.