The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has flagged a fare spike of up to ₦405,000 on certain domestic routes during the December 2025 festive season, signalling potential price-fixing by local airlines. The revelation comes in an interim report released by the Commission’s Surveillance and Investigations Department.
The report compared domestic airfare levels during the holiday period with post-peak January 2026 fares, noting materially higher ticket prices despite stable key cost drivers such as aviation fuel, government taxes, and foreign exchange rates.
“Preliminary analysis indicates that fares recorded during the December peak were materially higher than those observed in the post-peak period across several routes despite relative stability in critical operating variables,” the Commission said.
Route-level analysis highlighted that higher fares coincided with periods of reduced seat availability, particularly on high-density corridors like Abuja–Port Harcourt, where ticket prices surged multiple times over post-peak levels. Median fares across sampled routes also rose sharply during the festive window.
The Commission acknowledged that legitimate factors, including seasonal demand pressures, fleet utilisation, and scheduling constraints, could influence pricing, and these remain under review in the ongoing investigation.
Commenting on the report, FCCPC executive vice chairman and chief executive officer Tunji Bello, said the review is part of the Commission’s mandate to ensure competitive markets and protect consumers.
“This assessment is intended to provide clarity on pricing behaviour during predictable peak travel periods. The Commission’s role is not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity, but to ensure that market outcomes remain consistent with competition and consumer protection principles under the law,” Bello said.
He emphasised that the report is interim, with further structural and route-level analysis underway before any regulatory or enforcement steps are considered.
“It is important to emphasise that this is an interim report. Our next action will be dictated by full facts established at the end of the review exercise,” he added.
The report references Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124, and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which address issues including agreements in restraint of competition, abuse of dominance, price-fixing, conspiracy, fair dealings, and unfair contract terms.
Bello also indicated that foreign airlines will face scrutiny after the conclusion of the local carriers’ review, following complaints that some international operators charge Nigerians higher fares than on comparable routes in neighbouring countries.
The FCCPC said all findings will inform whether regulatory guidance, engagement, or enforcement measures are necessary, in full compliance with the law.
