By Micah Jonah, February 27, 2026
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has uncovered patterns of alleged price manipulation by some domestic airlines during the December 2025 festive season, raising fresh concerns over consumer exploitation in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
In an interim report released by its Department of Surveillance and Investigations, the commission said preliminary findings from an industry wide probe announced in January showed that ticket fares during the festive peak were significantly higher than post peak levels in January 2026.
According to the agency, the sharp rise in fares occurred despite relative stability in key operating variables such as aviation fuel prices, government taxes and foreign exchange rates.
In a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the commission said the forensic review compared domestic airline pricing during the December festive rush with subsequent fare levels in January.
The report noted that the observed price differences appeared to reflect discretionary pricing decisions by airlines, including yield management and capacity allocation strategies, rather than external cost pressures.
Route level analysis showed that fare increases coincided with reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand peaks, suggesting possible deliberate supply constraints. On high density routes, peak fares were often clustered within narrow ranges across several operators, a pattern the commission said may indicate coordinated behaviour.
The report cited routes such as Abuja to Port Harcourt, where peak fares were reportedly several times higher than post peak levels. On some corridors, the difference in the price of a single ticket was said to have reached about N405,000.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Tunji Bello, said the assessment was part of the agency’s mandate to promote fair competition and protect consumers.
He stressed that the findings were interim and that deeper structural and route level analysis would be conducted before any regulatory action is taken.
The commission identified possible violations of sections of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 relating to anti competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, price fixing, conspiracy and unfair contract terms.
Bello also disclosed that the probe would be extended to foreign carriers operating in Nigeria following complaints that Nigerians pay higher fares on certain international routes compared to travellers in neighbouring countries.
Responding to the allegations, the spokesperson of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, criticised the commission, arguing that it lacks the technical expertise to determine how airfares are structured.
He maintained that airline pricing reflects operational realities and warned that regulatory interference could threaten the survival of domestic operators.
Airfare pricing has remained a major concern for Nigerian travellers, particularly during festive periods when demand surges. While airlines attribute high fares to limited fleet capacity, rising fuel costs and operational challenges, consumer advocates have repeatedly accused operators of exploiting predictable seasonal demand.
The outcome of the FCCPC’s investigation is expected to have significant implications for pricing transparency and competition in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
