There was outrage in the Senate on Tuesday as lawmakers demanded an immediate suspension of the recent increase in domestic airfares, which has pushed one-way ticket prices to between N460,000 and N700,000. The lawmakers said the sudden rise was beyond the reach of most Nigerians, especially as the festive season approaches and thousands are preparing to travel home.
The senators also resolved to summon the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to appear before the Senate and explain the reasons behind the sharp hike, which many lawmakers described as “unreasonable,” “unjustified,” and “anti-people.”
The motion, raised during plenary, attracted wide support from lawmakers who said the cost of air travel had now become a luxury reserved only for the wealthy, leaving average citizens stranded during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), speaking in support of the motion, said the cost of flying from Abuja to his home state had skyrocketed to almost N700,000, making travel nearly impossible for ordinary Nigerians.
“The airfare is too exorbitant,” he said. “Going to Kebbi myself, I have to spend close to about N700,000. This is unaffordable. There has not been a corresponding increase in aviation fuel or airport charges. So we need to summon all the stakeholders and question them on the reason for the hike.”
Aliero said the price of aviation fuel, commonly known as Jet A1, has not spiked sharply in recent weeks to justify such a steep rise in airfares. He added that the economic hardship facing Nigerians makes the situation particularly troubling.
Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North) shared similar concerns. He said he was shocked to discover that a one-way flight from Abuja to Enugu — a route of less than one hour — now costs N460,000 to N500,000, depending on the airline.
“I called my personal assistant to get a ticket for me for December 13th from Abuja to Enugu. Shockingly, the cost for a one-way ticket from Abuja to Enugu is N500,000 with Air Peace and N460,000 for Ibom Air. This is unheard of,” he told the Senate.
Nwaebonyi added that the cost would force many Nigerians to cancel their travel plans or resort to travelling by road, despite rising insecurity on major highways.
Another senator, Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), said the situation had made inter-state movement extremely difficult for millions of citizens.
“Nigerians are finding it very difficult to travel from one place to another,” Buhari said. “Will you believe that Abuja to Lagos is now between 400,000 and 650,000? From Abuja to Ilorin is about 550,000, and Abuja to Enugu is around 500,000.”
He warned that the hike would hit citizens hardest during the festive season — a period when many Nigerians return to their hometowns for Christmas and end-of-year activities.
“When we noticed all these, the committee decided to investigate further and we found out that poor people cannot afford to travel, especially during this festive period,” he said.
He called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to intervene urgently to protect Nigerians from what he described as “extreme pricing.”
Before Tuesday’s session, the Senate had already summoned Minister Festus Keyamo over the rising cost of air travel. Lawmakers want him to explain the reasons behind the hike and outline measures the government is taking to address it.
Nigeria’s aviation sector has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including rising operational costs, currency devaluation, high maintenance expenses, and difficulty accessing foreign exchange. Airlines have repeatedly complained that the cost of aircraft spare parts and maintenance has increased due to the weakening naira and global inflation.
However, senators argued that these factors still do not justify the sudden jump to over N400,000 for some short domestic flights.
They also expressed concern that airline operators may be taking advantage of the festive rush to impose excessive fares.
The airfare increase comes at a time when many Nigerians are preparing to travel for Christmas and New Year celebrations. With high insecurity on major roads — including kidnapping, robbery, and accidents — many travellers usually prefer to fly during the holidays.
But with ticket prices now out of reach, senators fear that more Nigerians will be forced onto unsafe roads.
Many citizens have taken to social media to complain about the situation, with some describing the fares as “daylight robbery,” while others say they may cancel their travel plans entirely.
Travel agencies also reported that bookings have dropped drastically, even as airlines struggle to fill seats due to high costs.
Nigeria’s aviation industry has struggled with several long-standing issues, including:
High cost of aviation fuel, which makes up the largest portion of operating expenses.
Weak naira, which makes aircraft maintenance and spare parts more expensive.
Limited competition, as only a few airlines operate major routes.
High taxes and charges at airports.
Demand pressure, especially during festive seasons.
Although some of these factors contribute to higher fares, lawmakers said there is no clear justification for the current spike.
The Senate has asked its aviation committee to hold a full investigation involving airlines, the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other stakeholders.
The goal is to determine:
Why the airfares increased suddenly
Whether airlines violated any pricing guidelines
What emergency steps the government can take to ensure fair pricing
How to protect travellers during the festive season
Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured the lawmakers that the issue would be treated with urgency to prevent further hardship for Nigerians.
As the festive season draws closer, many Nigerians fear that travel will remain difficult and unaffordable. With insecurity still high and airfares now beyond the reach of the average citizen, lawmakers say urgent intervention is needed to prevent a nationwide transportation crisis.
