February 27, (THEWILL) — The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has accused domestic airlines of involvement in airfare manipulation across its route network.
The Commission affirmed that it found credible evidence that domestic airlines engaged in price manipulation during the December 2025 festive season.
In the interim report released by the FCCPC on Thursday, the Commission’s Surveillance and Investigations department accused domestic airlines of raising fares by amounts far beyond what operating costs alone could justify.
The FCCPC said it collected its data directly from the airlines operating domestic routes across the country, charged and compared ticket prices during the December 2025 peak travel window with fares recorded in the post-holiday period in January 2026.
The cost of airfares rose sharply during the festive season on multiple routes, as the Commission says the fact that there was no increase in taxes, forex or aviation fuel points not to legitimate reasons but to deliberate decisions to increase fares by the airlines themselves and the deliberate restriction of available seat capacity at critical travel periods.
The Commission cited the Abuja-Port Harcourt route as an example of high pricing, with fares during the peak period reaching double what the same journey cost just weeks later. It said that on selected routes, the price difference for a single ticket reached approximately ₦405,000.
The Commission acknowledged in its report that some fare variation during peak seasons is normal in airline operations. The Commission said that a seasonal surge in demand, aircraft availability, and scheduling challenges can push prices higher, but these factors, the FCCPC noted, are still being considered as the review continues.
Speaking on the release of the report, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, described the review as part of the Commission’s mandate to promote competitive markets and protect consumers from exploitation.
“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.
“It is important to emphasise 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”, he said.
Mr Bello said further structural and route-level analysis is ongoing before the Commission reaches any definitive conclusions, suggesting the final report could carry significantly heavier consequences for airlines found to have violated the law.
Bello also announced that foreign airlines will be the next target of the FCCPC’s scrutiny. He cited widespread public complaints about the fares foreign carriers charge Nigerian passengers on certain international routes, which are reportedly far higher than what passengers in neighbouring countries pay for journeys of the same distance.
Reacting to FCCPC’s report, the spokesperson of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said the Commission doesn’t have the professional expertise to dabble into airline operations and that their actions are detrimental to the survival of domestic operators.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, Prof Okonkwo said, “I have not read the details of the report, but what the FCCPC is doing is very detrimental to the survival of domestic operators. They don’t know the economics of airlines and do not possess the professional expertise to dabble in how prices are fixed. They don’t understand airline operations, and as far as the AON is concerned, they are playing to the gallery and should not be taken seriously.
“We have immense respect for all government agencies, but we would not accept any statement not based on realities or facts”, Okonkwo stated.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
