The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has uncovered what it described as patterns of price manipulation by some domestic airlines during the December 2025 festive season.
In an interim report released on Thursday, the commission said its findings raised fresh concerns about possible consumer exploitation and unfair competition in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The report followed an industry-wide probe announced in January 2026 after widespread complaints from air travellers about high ticket prices during the Christmas and New Year period.
According to the FCCPC, preliminary analysis of data obtained from airlines operating local routes showed that ticket fares during the December peak were significantly higher than those charged in January 2026.
The commission said this increase happened despite relative stability in major operating costs such as aviation fuel, government taxes, and foreign exchange rates.
In a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the commission said the exercise compared ticket prices during the festive rush with those charged after the peak period.
“Preliminary analysis indicates that fares recorded during the December peak were materially higher than those observed in the post-peak period across several routes,” the statement said.
It added that the differences appeared to reflect discretionary pricing decisions by the airlines rather than external cost pressures.
The report was prepared by the commission’s Department of Surveillance and Investigations.
The FCCPC said its route-level analysis showed that fare increases often coincided with reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand peaks.
It suggested that this could indicate deliberate supply constraints.
On some high-traffic routes, the commission said peak fares were clustered within narrow ranges across several operators. According to the report, this pattern may suggest coordinated behaviour among airlines.
“For instance, on certain corridors such as Abuja–Port Harcourt, peak fares were several times higher than corresponding post-peak levels,” the report stated.
It added that on selected routes, the price difference for a single ticket reached about N405,000.
Median fares across sampled routes also rose sharply during the festive period when compared to January benchmarks.
However, the commission noted that seasonal demand, fleet use, and scheduling constraints could also influence pricing. It said these factors are still under review as part of its ongoing investigation.
Speaking on the findings, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the review was part of the commission’s mandate to promote competition and protect consumers.
“This assessment is intended to provide clarity on pricing behaviour during predictable peak travel periods,” Bello said.
“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.”
He stressed that the report is interim and that a deeper structural and route-level analysis will be carried out before any regulatory steps are taken.
“Our next action will be dictated by the full facts established at the end of the review exercise,” Bello added.
The commission said possible violations under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 are being examined. These include provisions relating to anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance, price-fixing, conspiracy, and unfair dealings with consumers.
Relevant sections of the law cited include Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124 and 127.
Bello also disclosed that the commission would extend its investigation to international airlines operating in Nigeria.
He said there have been persistent complaints that Nigerians pay higher fares on certain international routes compared to travellers in neighbouring countries covering similar distances.
“Following the ongoing review of domestic airlines, the Commission will also examine the pricing behaviour of foreign carriers operating in Nigeria,” he said.
Airfare pricing has long been a major concern in Nigeria, especially during festive seasons when demand increases sharply. Many Nigerians travel home during Christmas and New Year celebrations, leading to full flights and limited seat availability.
Airlines often defend high fares by pointing to rising aviation fuel prices, limited fleet capacity, high maintenance costs, foreign exchange challenges, and infrastructure gaps.
Nigeria’s aviation sector has faced several difficulties in recent years. Aircraft shortages and high operational costs have reduced capacity. Access to foreign exchange for maintenance and spare parts has also been a challenge.
However, consumer groups have accused airlines of taking advantage of predictable seasonal demand by limiting seat supply and raising prices sharply.
Reacting to the FCCPC’s interim report, the spokesperson of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof Obiora Okonkwo, strongly criticised the commission.
Okonkwo said the FCCPC lacks the professional knowledge to interfere in airline pricing.
“I have not read the details of the report, but what the FCCPC is doing is very detrimental to the survival of domestic operators,” he said.
“They don’t know the economics of airlines and do not possess the professional expertise to dabble in how prices are fixed.”
He added that as far as the AON is concerned, the commission’s actions 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,” he said.
Industry watchers say the outcome of the FCCPC’s probe could have significant implications for Nigeria’s aviation industry.
If the commission finds evidence of anti-competitive practices, it may issue regulatory guidance or take enforcement actions in line with the law.
Such actions could reshape pricing transparency and competition in the sector.
The development comes at a time when the Federal Government is seeking to strengthen consumer protection and ensure fair market practices across key sectors of the economy.
