FCCPC Beams Searchlight On Airlines Over Disturbing Patterns of Fare Manipulations
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has allegedly uncovered clear patterns of price manipulation by some local airlines especially during the December 2025 festive season, setting the stage for possible, swift sanctions against offenders. In an interim report released this week by its Department of Surveillance and Investigations, the agency detailed how domestic carriers hiked fares dramatically, despite stable operating costs like fuel prices, government taxes, and foreign exchange rates. Peak-period tickets on routes such as Abuja-Port Harcourt soared several times higher than January 2026 post-peak levels, with some single-ticket differences hitting approximately N405,000.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, affirmed the agency’s resolve to punish violators. “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,” Mr. Bello said. He emphasized ongoing analysis, adding, “It is important to emphasize that this is an interim report. Our next action will be dictated by the full facts established at the end of the review exercise. Then, the Commission will decide whether any regulatory guidance, engagement or enforcement steps are necessary, strictly in accordance with the law”.
The forensic review drew on data directly from airlines on local routes, comparing December highs with January benchmarks where median fares also rose sharply. While acknowledging seasonal demand and fleet issues, FCCPC vows no leniency for exploitation. Mr. Bello further announced scrutiny of foreign carriers next, citing complaints of inflated fares for Nigerians versus neighboring countries on equal-distance routes. This bold enforcement underscores FCCPC’s mandate to shield consumers from arbitrary pricing in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
