The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said the conclusion followed a forensic review of airfare data obtained directly from carriers, after widespread public complaints over sharp ticket increases during the Yuletide season.
The Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, revealed that the findings emerged from an industry-wide analysis conducted by the agency’s Department of Surveillance and Investigations. The probe was launched in January in response to concerns that ticket prices had risen disproportionately during the holiday window.
Sharp Fare Spikes Despite Stable Cost Drivers
According to the FCCPC’s interim report, airfares surged significantly across multiple domestic routes, even though key cost drivers — including aviation fuel prices, regulatory charges and foreign exchange rates — remained relatively stable during the period under review.
The Commission stated that the observed fare differentials appear to stem from airlines’ internal pricing strategies, such as yield management and capacity allocation decisions, rather than external regulatory or operational cost pressures.
Route-level data showed that higher ticket prices often coincided with periods of reduced seat availability during predictable demand peaks. On some high-density routes, peak fares were concentrated within similar price bands across multiple operators.
For example, on routes such as Abuja–Port Harcourt, peak-season fares were reportedly several times higher than post-peak prices. In certain cases, the difference for a single ticket reached approximately N405,000. Median fares across sampled routes also rose sharply when compared to post-holiday benchmarks.
Seasonal Demand Still Under Review
While pointing to signs of arbitrary pricing, the Commission acknowledged that seasonal demand pressures, scheduling limitations and fleet utilisation constraints can legitimately influence ticket pricing during peak travel periods.
It said these variables are still being evaluated as part of the ongoing investigation, indicating that the current report is preliminary and not a final determination of liability.
Consumer Protection Mandate
Commenting on the review, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the assessment aligns with the Commission’s statutory responsibility to promote competition and safeguard consumer interests.
He noted that the agency’s objective is not to interfere with legitimate commercial activity but to ensure that market outcomes during predictable peak periods remain consistent with competition law and consumer protection standards.
The Commission has not yet announced enforcement actions but indicated that further findings will be communicated as the review progresses.