The Nigerian aviation industry has ground to a halt as a result of the crippling fuel crisis, with airlines cancelling flights and suspending ticket sales.

Isaac Okorafor, who failed in his bid to get a flight from the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Lagos back to his Abuja base, lamented on his Facebook wall this afternoon:

“Nigerian aviation industry total lockdown is on. Stranded in Lagos. No flights, no airline is selling any ticket.”

In a related post yesterday, Uche Ezechukwu, an Abuja-based veteran media practitioner, wrote: “My brother booked a flight to Lagos from Asaba today but the airline texted to inform him last night that all flights have been cancelled due to aviation scarcity.”

The fuel shortage started with oil suppliers demanding payment of alleged arrears of nearly $1 billion by the out-going Goodluck Jonathan administration which has, however, disputed the claim.