Nigeria, April 18 -- Nigeria's aviation sector stepped back from the brink of disruption on Friday after airline operators agreed to suspend a planned shutdown of flight operations, following an appeal by the Federal Government.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said it would temporarily halt the action scheduled for 20 April after what it described as a "concessionary but conditional" decision reached during an emergency meeting of its leadership.

The development comes after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, urged airlines not to increase airfares or suspend operations despite the worsening aviation fuel crisis.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the minister, in a letter dated 16 April, appealed for...