Despite interventions by lawmakers and government agencies, relief has remained elusive. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recently announced it is expanding an ongoing investigation into airline ticket pricing for certain domestic routes, aiming to determine whether operators may be violating consumer protection laws.
Airlines and Road Travel: A Costly Choice
While some travelers avoid roads due to poor highway conditions, security checkpoints, banditry, and other hazards, others are willing to pay premium prices to fly. Routes from Lagos and Abuja to Southeast cities such as Enugu, Owerri, Onitsha, and Abakaliki, as well as South-South cities including Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Uyo, have seen fares double or triple compared to averages earlier in the year.
Even with the entrance of new carriers like Pioneer Air, Enugu Air/Xejet Airlines, Binani Airlines, and UMZA Airlines, one-way tickets on some routes now cost between ₦300,000 and ₦600,000. For a family of five traveling from Lagos to Enugu, this translates to an average cost of ₦1.5 million.
Flight booking portals indicate limited availability for popular routes. For instance, tickets from Lagos to Asaba are fully booked for the weekend, with the next available flights only on December 16, 2025, at ₦432,700. Similarly, Lagos to Enugu and Lagos to Port Harcourt flights for the weekend cost around ₦430,700 per passenger.
By contrast, bus fares remain significantly cheaper, averaging less than ₦30,000 for Lagos-to-Southeast trips. Some travelers have explored fractional charter arrangements via limousine services to mitigate limited seat availability on commercial flights.
Why Airfares Are So High
Industry experts attribute soaring ticket prices to a combination of factors. Bankole Bernard, Group Managing Director of FinchGlow Holdings and former president of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), said high demand during “Detty December” drives distortions across transportation, hotels, e-hailing services, and other end-of-year expenses.
Bernard highlighted that excessive government taxes, levies, and high operating costs—particularly dollar-denominated expenses like fuel and aircraft leases—force airlines to prioritise “yield over volume,” selling fewer seats at higher prices to cover costs. He noted that only about 55% of a ₦1,000 ticket revenue goes to airlines, with the remainder absorbed by government charges and aviation fees.
Dr. Alex Nwuba, President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, described the seasonal spike as typical, driven by late bookings and the small proportion of Nigerians who fly annually. Limited aircraft capacity, a weakened naira, and fuel costs above global rates further exacerbate the situation. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s aviation system, including reforms to taxes and operational charges.
Government Response and Oversight
The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to cut aviation taxes by 50% to alleviate the financial burden on families during the yuletide season. However, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo stressed that the government cannot regulate ticket prices due to the industry’s deregulated, free-market structure established since the Babangida era.
The FCCPC, meanwhile, clarified that its expanded investigation is focused on preventing consumer exploitation rather than setting price caps. Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Tunji Bello assured that evidence of unfair practices will prompt action.
Road Transport Could Also See Price Hikes
Although bus fares have remained stable for now, operators predict increases as the festive period approaches. Trips from Lagos to Southeast cities currently cost under ₦30,000, while fares from Aba or Umuahia to Lagos range between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000, depending on distance. Operators warn that by December 18, 2025, fares will begin rising in response to increasing demand.
The Bottom Line
With airfares at record highs and road travel facing security and congestion challenges, many Nigerians are weighing their options carefully this Christmas. The combination of market-driven pricing, high operating costs, and seasonal demand spikes suggests that festive travel will remain a costly endeavour, placing immense pressure on families hoping to reunite during the holiday season.