The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has opened an investigation into recent airfare hikes on select domestic routes in Nigeria’s South-South and South-East regions.
The move followed growing public complaints over sharp price increases as the festive travel season begins across the country.
Okay News reports that the disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs.
The probe focuses on pricing templates used by some airlines on the affected routes to determine whether they breach consumer protection or competition laws.
Concerns have been raised over what appears to be coordinated or exploitative pricing by some airlines, particularly on routes linking the South-East and South-South to other parts of Nigeria.
The FCCPC said the ongoing inquiry targets operators on the identified routes during this festive period.
The Commission clarified that it is not a price control body but is empowered under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 to intervene where pricing practices undermine consumer welfare.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the agency would act where evidence shows that consumers are being exploited through unfair airline pricing.
The statement also referenced an earlier legal action instituted by Air Peace, which sought to restrain the FCCPC from examining its pricing mechanisms after a similar investigation earlier in the year.
The FCCPC noted that the current inquiry is without prejudice to the pending court case involving Air Peace.
Citing Sections 17(b) and 17(e) of the FCCPA, the Commission said it has the authority to monitor economic activities, investigate anti-competitive conduct, and address practices that may harm consumers.
The agency added that while prices are generally determined by market forces, the law prohibits excessive, opaque, misleading, or collusive pricing in the aviation sector.
The FCCPC said it is reviewing the basis for the reported airfare increases and pricing patterns on the affected routes.
The Commission stated that it will apply appropriate enforcement measures where violations are established against airlines.
Over the past few days, Nigerians have complained about the cost of booking flights to the South-East and South-South, as demand rises ahead of Christmas.
In some cases, tickets have reportedly climbed to N350,000 and above, triggering public backlash on social media platforms.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said the federal government cannot regulate airfare pricing, noting that Nigeria’s aviation sector has been deregulated for decades.
Aviation stakeholders have explained that the seasonal spike is largely driven by late bookings and high demand, a pattern that repeats every festive period.
Airlines also operate a “bucket” pricing system, under which early passengers pay lower fares, while prices rise as seats fill up closer to departure dates.
