Air travel across Nigeria continues to suffer major setbacks as airlines grapple with a persistent shortage of Jet A1 fuel, leading to widespread delays, cancellations, and operational disruptions.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, passengers booked on a United Nigeria Airlines flight to Benin were left stranded after repeated changes to the departure schedule.
The affected flight, identified as UN0572, was initially slated to depart at 12:20 p.m. but was later postponed to 4:20 p.m.
After hours of waiting, passengers were again informed shortly before 7:00 p.m. that the flight had been rescheduled to 7:00 a.m. the following day.
The situation left many travellers without clear alternatives, as no arrangements were made for accommodation or transportation despite the extended delay.
Passengers expressed frustration over what they described as poor communication and lack of support from airline officials.
One of the stranded travellers, Akporoba Monday Olomu, recounted his experience, criticising the airline’s handling of the situation.
“I bought a ticket with United Nigeria Airways, Abuja to Benin, scheduled for 2:20, 14:20 hours today.
”I was here at 14:20 hours, the flight was shifted to 16:20 hours, which was 4:20 p.m., and then again, no information from the attendant or the manager until about this time, which is 1902 hours GMT, ” he said.
“One of the managers just walked in carelessly, asking everybody to go and come back tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock.
”Then my question is, where do I go? How do I go? Where do I start from? I’m asking the manager to book a place for me, or arrange accommodation or space, take me there so you can bring me back tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock, the time you have given, and then they are turning this offer down,” he lamented.
The ongoing fuel scarcity has continued to disrupt airline schedules nationwide, raising concerns among passengers and industry stakeholders about the reliability of domestic air travel and the broader impact on the aviation sector.
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