Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/7/nigerian-airlines-suspend-flights-over-soaring-fuel-prices
Recently in Nigeria there’s been an announcement of Nigerian airlines stopping all domestic flights amid a massive price spike in jet fuel. Jet fuel has quadrupled in price going from $0.45 to $1.70. This price makes an hour flight about 290$ which many Nigerians can’t afford. This price spike is due to the Russo-Ukrainian war which is still raging on. With Russia being the major supplier of refined fuel to the country. Despite Nigeria producing 1.4 million barrels a day it’s all crude oil and useless because it’s unrefined. This has led many to take to social media. Many users now poke fun at the 400 mile trip between Lagos and Abuja which only takes an hour by plane. Nigeria’s government is worried about the ripple effects of the shutdown and how it will affect the country.
My take on this article is how the Russian and Ukrainian war has disrupted the global supply chain. Global interdependence has become such an important factor in today’s world. Trading has become extremely important as countries rely more and more on each other. This complex interdependence has become an issue when countries’ ability to trade is inhibited. This is relevant in countries where dependence on oil from Russia has been inhibited and this dependence then has ripple effects in the country and surrounding countries. This Domino effect can cause famine, economic crises, and internal failure of a country. Complex interdependence while very beneficial in peace time is also very dangerous as the minute supplies are cut off things tend to fail without them. In this case Nigeria’s un-ability to receive jet fuel skyrockets prices and leads to the shutdown of domestic flights.
This topic relates back to class with the topic of state structure. State power of Nigeria is not too powerful given its regional history. As they face the jet fuel crisis Nigeria with its limited power has limited options with little power means their negotiation power with other countries law means they will most likely face the crisis on their own. Along with this is the question of the government’s legitimacy. The power of the country is only as much as the people give them. As the country has shutdown domestic flights, many critic have taken to the internet moving their opinions. This question the government’s legitimacy and how it can conduct the country properly.