MINISTER of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has disclosed that efforts would be made, in due course, to provide the enablers, which would ensure local production for aviation fuel in the near future.

According to him, "the immediate action point for now is to meet with all the importers of aviation fuel, we want to understand the consumption pattern and also look at their cost to ensure that they are not profiteering excessively."

He stated this, while receiving the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, and his team of directors during a visit to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Towers in Abuja.

Dr Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of the corporation, explained that though the refineries were not producing aviation fuel for now, efforts would be made for local production in the future.

"Though, the supply and distribution of JET A1 is outside the control of government because it has since been deregulated, a meeting of importers of aviation fuel will soon be convened to address all challenges impeding the seamless supply of the product," he promised.

He, therefore, pledged alongside his counterpart from aviation ministry, Senator Sirika, to work together to eliminate the noticeable challenge faced by airline operators in accessing aviation fuel for their daily operations.

In his remarks, Senator Sirika noted that the need to ensure availability of JET A1 fuel has become imperative, considering the fact that the product accounts for about 45 percent of the total cost of operation