Abuja, Dec. 12, 2025 – The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has expanded the scope of ongoing investigation into air fare pricing in the country.
It said the investigation is about the templates behind rates charged for tickets by some airlines on some domestic routes with a view to establishing possible violations of the provisions of the law.
FCCPC said the ongoing investigation particularly targets operators on the identified routes
According to a statement issued by the commission on Friday, concerns had been expressed widely in the past few days over what appears to be coordinated manipulation or exploitation in the pricing of airline tickets by some airlines on certain routes, especially in the South-East and South-South, as the festive season begins.
“Earlier in the year, a major airline, Air Peace, instituted a court action seeking to restrain the Commission from examining its pricing mechanisms, following the commencement of an investigation into its pricing model after widespread complaints from members of the public.
“The ongoing inquiry is without prejudice to the case instituted against the Commission by Air Peace,” it said.
While clarifying the Commission’s position, Tunji Bello, the FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board, but the FCCPA 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers.
“When we receive petitions or where we find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise.”
The FCCPC boss the Commission would not hesitate to act where evidence shows that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined.
Section 17(b) of the FCCPA empowers the Commission to monitor economic activities in Nigeria to identify anti-competitive, anti-consumer protection and restrictive practices that may adversely affect consumers.
Section 17(e) which enables the Commission to carry out investigations considered necessary.
Although the Commission is not a price control body, fair pricing is a core objective of the FCCPA. The Act establishes a comprehensive framework that protects consumers from excessive, opaque, misleading, or collusive pricing practices while promoting competitive markets that deliver products and services at prices determined through fair market dynamics.
the Commission said that, given the arbitrary spike in airfares, it is extending its review of pricing patterns, the basis for the increases reported by consumers, and any practices that could undermine fair competition.
“Where evidence confirms a breach of the Act, FCCPC will apply appropriate enforcement measures,” it said, and promised to provide further updates on the ongoing aviation investigation in due course.
