STORY: Domestic airlines in Nigeria are threatening to stop flying, as jet fuel prices surge.
Meanwhile, the country's giant Dangote refinery is benefiting from record margins for producing jet fuel that it is mostly selling abroad.
The largest refinery on the continent was built to turn Africa's biggest oil producer into a net exporter of refined products...
...ending Nigeria's reliance on imports, and shielding its economy from global energy shocks.
It became fully operational at the start of this year and at maximum capacity produces 650,000 barrels per day.
That has improved local fuel availability.
But domestic fuel prices are still among the highest in Africa as Nigeria's market is fully deregulated.
Prices are not subsidized by the government as they are in most African countries.
Airlines have hiked ticket prices according to local travel agents like Otejiri Omare.
''I mean with some airlines from Benin to Lagos that we booked yesterday we are seeing a cost 145,000 naira for something that used to be at 90 something before, and it is going to just keep increasing.''
Nigerian airlines last week threatened to halt all flights.
It prompted the government on Thursday to approve measures including some relief on debts owed by local airlines and ordering talks to try to agree lower prices.
Industry body the Airline Operators of Nigeria said prices, taking logistics and storage costs into account, have nearly tripled since the Iran war began.
The issue is further complicated by the state oil company's long-standing debt repayment agreements.
It means Dangote has to import most of its crude oil, making it easier to balance its books if it sells abroad.
