The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched an investigation into alleged price manipulation by domestic airlines during the December 2025 festive season.
The probe, conducted by the Commission’s Department of Surveillance and Investigations, compared ticket fares during the December peak with post-peak January 2026 levels. Preliminary findings indicate that fares were significantly higher during the festive period, despite stability in key costs such as aviation fuel, government taxes, and foreign exchange rates.
According to the FCCPC, the price differences appear to stem from discretionary airline pricing decisions, rather than external cost pressures. This includes practices like yield management and capacity allocation, suggesting potential consumer exploitation.
The Commission emphasized that the investigation aims to ensure fair competition in Nigeria’s aviation sector and will take appropriate regulatory action if violations are confirmed.
Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, stated:
“A review undertaken by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has uncovered patterns of price manipulation perpetrated by some local airlines during the last festive season. The differences observed in fares appear to reflect arbitrary pricing decisions rather than regulatory or operational cost changes.”
This investigation could have major implications for domestic airlines and how fares are structured during peak travel periods in Nigeria.
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