By Juliet Ezeh
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has revealed plans to compel several airlines operating in Nigeria to refund passengers who paid inflated ticket fares during the December 2025 festive season.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by the commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, while briefing journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Bello said the commission had concluded investigations into allegations that some domestic airlines engaged in price-fixing and fare exploitation during the Christmas travel rush.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that airline ticket prices surged abnormally during the period, prompting widespread complaints from travellers across the country.
Ticket Prices Jumped From N150,000 to N670,000
The FCCPC chief explained that airfares that normally ranged between about N145,000 and N150,000 suddenly rose to between N400,000 and N670,000 during the Yuletide season.
He said the sharp increase raised suspicion that some airlines may have collaborated to set prices instead of allowing market forces to determine the cost of tickets.
“We investigated following the complaints that airlines fixed prices during the Christmas period. Ticket prices that were around N145,000 or N150,000 suddenly rose to between N400,000 and N670,000,” Bello said.
He noted that the commission’s preliminary report had already found the airlines culpable of price exploitation and that a final report detailing sanctions would soon be released.
Airlines May Face Penalties
According to Bello, the commission is considering measures that could compel airlines involved in the alleged price manipulation to refund the excess charges collected from passengers.
He added that the FCCPC is also examining other enforcement options permitted under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
However, the FCCPC boss declined to disclose the names of the airlines under investigation, noting that about five or six carriers were involved.
Wider Consumer Protection Actions
Beyond the aviation sector, Bello revealed that the commission has also begun monitoring fuel prices and other commodities across the country to prevent businesses from exploiting Nigerians.
He said officials of the FCCPC have been deployed nationwide to track price movements, especially in the energy and retail sectors.
The commission is also working with the Nigerian Communications Commission and other regulatory agencies to address consumer complaints in sectors such as telecommunications, fintech and electricity.
According to the FCCPC, it receives roughly 25,000 consumer complaints annually and has recovered more than N20bn for affected consumers as of March 2026.
Bello added that investigations are ongoing into cement prices across the country following complaints from Nigerians over rising building material costs.
The FCCPC was established to protect consumer rights, promote fair competition and ensure that businesses do not engage in exploitative practices against Nigerians.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.