The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has disclosed, in an interim report, that some domestic airlines engaged in patterns of price manipulation during the December 2025 festive season.
According to the Commission’s surveillance and investigations department, fares across several routes were significantly higher during the peak period compared to January 2026, despite stability in key operating variables such as fuel costs, taxes, and foreign exchange. The report suggested that the increases were driven by arbitrary pricing decisions and reduced seat availability rather than regulatory changes.
Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello, emphasised that the FCCPC’s mandate is to safeguard competition and consumer rights, not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity. He noted that further structural and route‑level analysis is ongoing before regulatory guidance or enforcement action is considered. Bello also hinted that foreign airlines may soon be reviewed following complaints of exploitative fares charged to Nigerian passengers compared to neighbouring countries.
The interim report identified potential relevance of Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which address price‑fixing, abuse of dominance, unfair contract terms, and other anti‑competitive practices.
