The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has uncovered patterns of alleged price manipulation by some domestic airlines following a review of ticket sales during the December 2025 festive season.
The findings are contained in an interim report released on Thursday by the Commission’s Surveillance and Investigations Department, according to a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs.
The Commission had in January announced an industry-wide investigation into airfare pricing, citing widespread consumer complaints over exorbitant ticket costs during peak travel periods.
The forensic review drew on data collated directly from airlines operating domestic routes across the country.
According to the interim report, a comparative analysis of fares charged during the December 2025 festive peak and those recorded in the post-peak period of January 2026 shows that ticket prices were materially higher in December across several routes.
The commission noted that this occurred despite relative stability in key operating cost variables such as aviation fuel prices, government taxes and foreign exchange rates.
The Commission noted that the fare differences appear to reflect airlines pricing decisions, including yield management strategies and capacity allocation, rather than variations in regulatory charges.
Route-level analysis further revealed that higher fares coincided with periods of reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand surges.
On some high-density routes, peak fares were found to be clustered within relatively narrow price bands across multiple operators.
For example, on routes such as Abuja–Port Harcourt, peak festive fares were several times higher than post-peak levels. On selected corridors, the price difference for a single ticket was as much as N405,000, the commission said
Median fares across sampled routes also rose significantly during the festive window compared to January benchmarks.
However, the interim report acknowledged that seasonal demand pressures, scheduling limitations and fleet utilisation constraints could legitimately influence pricing during peak periods.
The Commission said these factors remain under review as investigations continue.
Commenting on the development, Tunji Bello, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said the assessment forms part of the Commission’s statutory mandate to promote competitive markets and protect consumers.
“This assessment is intended to provide clarity on pricing behaviour during predictable peak travel periods. The Commission’s role is not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity, but to ensure that market outcomes remain consistent with competition and consumer protection principles under the law,” Bello said.
He emphasised that the report is interim and that further structural and route-level analyses are ongoing before any final determination is made.
“It is important to emphasise that this is an interim report. Our next action will be dictated by full facts established at the end of the review exercise. Then, the Commission will decide whether any regulatory guidance, engagement or enforcement steps are necessary, strictly in accordance with the law,” he added.
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The report also identified the potential relevance of Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018. These provisions address issues including agreements in restraint of competition, abuse of dominant position, price-fixing, conspiracy, the right to fair dealings and unfair or unjust contract terms.
Meanwhile, Bello disclosed that foreign airlines would come under the Commission’s scrutiny after the review of domestic carriers, following complaints that some international operators charge Nigerians significantly higher fares on certain routes compared to neighbouring countries covering similar distances.
The Commission said it would continue its review and provide updates upon conclusion of the investigation.
