•Aviation minister, Festus Keyamo (centre) cuts the tape to declare the installation open
A consortium of seven oil companies have set up a Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI 2) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos to supply Jet A1, otherwise known as aviation fuel, to airline operators in Nigeria.
This is as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has said that the operations of the facility at the Lagos airport would lead to massive reduction in flight delays and cancellations while also encouraging other private organisations to invest in the industry.
The consortium of energy companies are Eterna Plc, Techno Oil, Masters Energy, Quest Oil, Rahamaniyya, Ibafon Oil, and First Deep Water Limited, reports Daily Independent.
The facility is the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria at 46,000 square meters and boasts an impressive storage capacity of 15 million litres of Jet A1 fuel.
Mrs. Patience Dappa, the Chairman, JUHI 2 Limited, in her welcome address yesterday, described the strategic facility as an important milestone for the Nigerian aviation sector.
Dappa said that the companies came together to embark on the ambitious journey and was not dissuaded by the myriad of challenges it faced in the process.
She maintained that the commissioning of the JUHI-2 depot was not just the conclusion of an infrastructural project; rather a testament to shared belief in excellence and innovation in aviation fuel management.
She, however, said that the facility was not just about the size, but majorly about its operational excellence, safety, and reliability.
She assured that the company had enough facilities to adequately supply both local and international airlines operating into the country.
She emphasised that the facility would play a pivotal role in the development of the airport area and its surrounding communities.
She added: “This facility is equipped with state-of-the-art filtration systems, a jet fuel discharge system capable of loading four bowsers simultaneously, a modern laboratory, and cutting-edge fire prevention measures. It is a strategic asset, designed to provide a steady, reliable supply of jet fuel to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), MMA1, MMA2, and nearby airbases.
“In building JUHI-2, we are not only enhancing infrastructure; we are laying the foundation for Nigeria’s continued growth in aviation. This facility will serve airlines, cargo carriers, private jet operators, and other aviation stakeholders, ensuring world-class fuel service, minimizing downtime, and maximizing operational efficiency. In essence, we are not just fueling planes; we are fueling the future of aviation in Nigeria.
“Beyond its operational significance, JUHI-2 will generate numerous benefits for Nigeria. It will create direct and indirect employment opportunities, contributing to a reduction in unemployment within the region. It will also stimulate economic growth by boosting related industries such as transportation, logistics, and maintenance services.”
Also, Keyamo in his speech, said that the facilities could be compared to what is operational in the developed aviation countries around the world.
He maintained that the facility would support the aviation sector, while also creating employment to qualified Nigerians.
According to him, this facility would lead to the reduction of flight delays and cancellations across the country as aviation fuel would be more available to the public.
He further assured that the government would continue to encourage such collaboration, likening it to what happened in the banking sector a few years ago when some of the banks collaborated to form bigger entities.
He said: “Coming together of the big oil companies has aided this infrastructure and it is something we commend and expect other people to do.
“This expectation is on quality control and safety. It is not just to celebrate them without putting an eye on the quality. They have to first be honest about their operations, they keep to international standards and enhance safety in the industry.
“Apart from this, this is also a massive way for employment and Nigerians who are looking for employment would be taken off the streets and be employed. These are the things I expect from them. Once in a while, we will put an eye on this place, come to encourage them and see what they do.”
Mr. Abiola Lawal, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eterna Plc, said that the designing of JUHI 2 was not to only meet the current needs, but in anticipation of future growth.
Lawal in his speech, also said that the facility would support a wide range of operations from domestic and international commercial flights to cargo transportation.
He also described the commissioning of the facility as a significant milestone, not only for the companies involved, but for Nigeria’s aviation industry at large.
He explained that the facility had the capability to deliver a minimum of 150 million litres of aviation fuel supplies monthly to airlines, equaling about 20 per cent of the current nation’s annual sales volume in a month.
He added: “This state-of-the-art aviation fuel depot, located here at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, represents a strategic investment in our country’s infrastructure and a commitment to supporting its rapidly growing aviation sector.
“Spanning 46,000 square metres and boasting an impressive storage capacity of 15 million litres of Jet A1 fuel, JUHI-2 is now the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria. It has the capability of delivering a minimum of 150 million litres of aviation fuel supplies monthly to airlines, implying that this depot can deliver 20 per cent of the current nation’s annual sales volume in a month.”
Lawal added that apart from its size and capacity, the facility was also equipped with cutting-edge technology that guaranteed the highest standards of operational efficiency.
He emphasised that the facility could take delivery of four bridgers/aviation fuel trucks at a time, making it the first of its kind in Nigeria.
Besides, he also maintained that the depot had the capability to load four bowsers at a time, stressing that the average truck turn-around time would be minimum of 25 minutes, which allowed for high volume and high frequency aviation fuel handling.
He noted that to ensure the highest standards of fuel quality, JUHI 2 was equipped with an on-site laboratory as well as a modern filtration system that was specially designed to allow each of the four bowser loading points to have a dedicated filter.
“JUHI-2 represents the culmination of years of hard work, investment, and dedication, and it serves as a beacon of what is possible when industry leaders unite for a common purpose.
“We are confident that JUHI-2 will not only meet but exceed the expectations of the aviation industry, providing reliable fuel services for years to come,” he said.
