Air Peace said the cancellation of its Abuja-Maiduguri service on Saturday followed an initial shortage of Jet A1 aviation fuel at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and a later operating restriction at Maiduguri airport that prevented the flight from arriving after sunset.
The airline issued the explanation in a statement after videos and complaints from stranded passengers circulated on social media. In the statement, Air Peace said the initial delays to its Abuja operations arose from the unavailability of Jet A1 fuel, a situation it said affected other carriers operating from the airport. Channels TV, Nairametrics, and Premium Times reported the statement.
According to the airline, operations for affected flights resumed after fuel became available, but the Abuja-Maiduguri service could not operate as planned because the Maiduguri control tower withdrew an earlier extension that would have allowed the aircraft to arrive after sunset. Air Peace said the tower informed the crew that the airport had become subject to visual flight rules (VFR) and would no longer permit arrivals beyond sunset. Nairametrics, Premium Times.
Air Peace said passengers were kept informed and provided with refreshments during the disruption. Following the cancellation, the airline said affected travellers were given hotel accommodation and that arrangements were being made to operate the cancelled service the following day. In its statement the carrier said it “sincerely regret[ted] the inconvenience caused to our esteemed passengers” and stressed that passenger safety and wellbeing remained its priority. Channels TV, Premium Times.
Nairametrics said the disruption occurred while earlier limits on Jet A1 supply had already led Air Peace to cut the frequency of its Abuja-London service in April 2026, and had led other operators to suspend routes in May. The outlet also reported that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been supplying jet fuel to international markets while reserving the remainder of its output for Nigeria. Nairametrics.
Regulatory and passenger-rights context: Premium Times reported broader concerns about delays and cancellations in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector, citing figures it said were from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for August showing thousands of delayed flights and dozens cancelled. The report also recalled recent NCAA directives to Air Peace over other disrupted services and referenced Part 19 regulations that govern passenger assistance during delays and cancellations. Premium Times.
No independent statement from the Maiduguri airport control tower or the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority was included in the reports reviewed.
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