Nigeria’s consumer protection regulator has flagged possible price manipulation by domestic airlines after identifying significant fare disparities during the 2025 festive travel season.
In an interim report released Thursday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said ticket prices on some routes surged sharply in December 2025, with differences of up to N405,000 compared with fares recorded in January 2026.
The findings were disclosed in a statement by Ondaje Ijagwu, director of corporate affairs at the commission, following an industry-wide investigation launched after complaints over high holiday airfares.
According to the report, fare levels during the peak travel period were “materially higher” across several routes despite relative stability in key cost drivers such as fuel prices, taxes and foreign exchange.
“Preliminary analysis indicates that fares recorded during the December peak were materially higher than those observed in the post-peak period across several routes despite relative stability in critical operating variables like fuel price, government taxes and foreign exchange,” the report reads.
The commission said the price patterns appeared to reflect “arbitrary pricing decisions,” including yield management practices and capacity allocation strategies rather than regulatory fee changes.
It added that on busy routes, fares were clustered within narrow ranges across multiple airlines, a pattern currently undergoing structural analysis.
“For instance, on certain corridors like Abuja-Port Harcourt, peak fares were several times higher than corresponding post-peak levels,” the report said.
“On selected routes, the difference in the price of a single ticket reached approximately N405,000.”
While acknowledging that seasonal demand, scheduling challenges and aircraft utilisation may contribute to price increases during peak periods, the FCCPC said these factors remain under review.
The regulator noted that several provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, including sections covering restraint of competition, abuse of dominance, price-fixing, conspiracy and unfair contract terms, may be relevant to its findings.
Commenting on the development, FCCPC Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, stressed that the report is preliminary and that further route-level analysis is ongoing.
“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.
“Our next action will be dictated by 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.”
Bello also indicated that foreign airlines would be examined after the review of domestic operators, citing complaints that some international carriers charge Nigerians higher fares compared with similar journeys originating in neighbouring countries.
