The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Friday announced it has expanded an ongoing investigation into domestic airline ticket pricing, following a surge of public complaints alleging “coordinated manipulation” of airfares on select routes.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC said the broadened inquiry will focus on routes—particularly in the South-East and South-South—where consumers have reported steep fare spikes as holiday travel picks up.
The agency noted that its latest move comes amid longstanding concerns about “exploitation in the pricing of airline tickets” by some operators.
According to the Commission, the investigation will go on alongside a lawsuit filed earlier this year by one of Nigeria’s major carriers, Air Peace, which sought to prevent the FCCPC from scrutinizing its pricing model.
The Commission stressed that its current review is “without prejudice” to the pending case.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tunji Bello reaffirmed the Commission’s mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board, but the FCCPA 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers. When we receive petitions or where we find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise,” he said.
Bello added that the Commission “will not hesitate to act where evidence shows that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined.”
Under Section 17(b) of the FCCPA, the Commission is empowered to monitor economic activities to identify anti-competitive, anti-consumer or restrictive practices. Section 17(e) authorises it to carry out investigations as necessary, it noted.
While the FCCPC does not set prices, it emphasized that fair pricing is a core objective of the Act. The law protects consumers from “excessive, opaque, misleading, or collusive pricing practices” and promotes competitive market conditions.
Citing reports of “arbitrary” airfare increases, the Commission said it is now reviewing pricing patterns, the basis for recent fare adjustments, and any conduct that may undermine competition.
It stated that appropriate enforcement action will follow if violations are established, adding further updates on the aviation-sector probe will be provided “in due course.”
