The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has widened its ongoing investigation into alleged exploitative airfare pricing by some domestic airlines, following rising public complaints over sudden fare increases on specific routes.
In a statement issued on Friday, December 12, 2025, the Commission said the expanded probe will focus on pricing templates used by some carriers on selected domestic routes—particularly in the South-East and South-South—amid concerns of possible coordinated manipulation as the festive season approaches.
The FCCPC noted that consumers across the country have recently raised alarm over what appears to be exploitative pricing practices by airlines operating on certain high-demand routes. The Commission said its objective is to determine whether the airfare spikes violate provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
According to the statement, the investigation will review the conduct of operators on the identified routes and evaluate evidence from consumer petitions and market intelligence.
The Commission also disclosed that earlier in the year, Air Peace had filed a court action aimed at preventing the FCCPC from probing its pricing mechanisms, following complaints that prompted the Commission to commence a review of the airline’s pricing model. The FCCPC clarified that the present inquiry will continue independently of the court case.
FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s position, stressing that while the FCCPC is not a price-control agency, it has a statutory mandate to curb consumer exploitation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board. But the FCCPA 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers. When we receive petitions or where we find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise,” he said.
Bello added that the Commission will not hesitate to take enforcement action if it uncovers evidence that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined.
