The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission announced on Thursday in Abuja that it will make airlines that raised ticket costs during the December 2025 holiday season pay back the extra money to consumers who were taken advantage of.
Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, told State House reporters this morning at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Bello said that the Commission had finished looking into claims that five or six airlines were fixing prices and would shortly release a final report with fines.
He said that flight tickets that usually cost between N145,000 and N150,000 suddenly went up to between N400,000 and N670,000 during the Christmas season, which made a lot of people angry.
“We looked into the complaints that they raised prices during the Christmas season.” The prices of tickets, like plane tickets, went from N45,000 to N50,000 to N400,000 to N500,000, and then from N400,000 to N670,000 during Christmas.
The EVC said, “So we followed up through our investigation and were able to conclude that it was a kind of price-fixing mechanism.”
He said that the commission’s first report had already found the airlines guilty of price gouging and that a final report with specific punishments would be coming out soon.
“The first assessment already said they were lacking in that area, therefore the final report will come out very soon.
“And we’re also thinking about a circumstance where we have to ask them to give back the extra money to the passengers they took advantage of.
“So those are some of the topics we’re thinking about. “The FCCPC boss added, “By the time we finish the final report, you will see that.”
He wouldn’t say which airlines were implicated when asked, but he did say that roughly five or six were being looked into.
“I know about five or six, but I don’t want to say who they are,” he said.
The Commission took action after Nigerians who traveled during the Christmas and New Year holidays complained that they had to pay very high prices for domestic flights since there weren’t enough seats available and demand was strong.
Many travelers used social media to complain about the abrupt rise in ticket costs, which they called unfair and insensitive given the economic problems Nigerians are suffering.
Bello added that the FCCPC’s initial results suggest that airlines may have worked together to set prices, which is against the law under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
When businesses that compete with each other agree to set prices at a fixed level instead than letting the market decide, this is called price-fixing. It is against the law in Nigeria and is punished.
The FCCPC has mostly used fines and penalties that people have to pay to the government in the past.
During the conference, the FCCPC also talked about worries regarding electricity pricing bands. Officials defended the Band A classification but admitted that users don’t always get the guaranteed 20 hours of power every day.
Mr. Louis Odion, the Commission’s Executive Commissioner of Operations, said that the Commission’s job is not to control prices but to make sure that customers are not taken advantage of by the prices of goods and services.
“We’re not a price control agency, but we do try to make sure that consumers aren’t taken advantage of by the prices of goods and services.”
The official said, “That’s where we have the most problems with consumers in this country.”
He said that Band A customers, who pay higher rates, are entitled to at least 20 hours of electricity every day, while Band B customers should get 16 hours.
The official told people to formally complain if they don’t get the hours of service they were promised, saying that the commission works on an evidence-based manner.
“Most of the time, if you question them, they’ll say that this estate is really on Band A, but we haven’t gotten any official complaints from the estate about the number of hours of electricity we’re getting.
“Our work is based on evidence. He said, “We can’t do anything about a problem if we don’t have proof of it.”
Chizenum Nsitem, the Commission’s Head of Legal Services, said that the FCCPC has prosecuted more than 25 instances since the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act went into effect in 2019.
“At the last count, we have been able to prosecute more than 25 cases because people have broken the rules of the FCCPA.” “Undertakings have mostly followed the rules of the FCCPA out of fear of being prosecuted,” Nsitem said.
He said that the commission has more than 30 cases waiting at the Federal High Court and the FCCPC Tribunal. Five of these cases are at the Court of Appeal, where undertakings have appealed tribunal decisions.
The legal chief pointed to Section 20(2) of the FCCPA, which lets legal officials prosecute on behalf of the commission, and Section 113, which lets cases be sent to the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The FCCPC was set up to look out for and promote the interests and well-being of consumers, make sure that their rights are protected, and give them access to information so they can make smart decisions.
People have criticized Nigeria’s aviation industry for having ticket rates that alter all the time. Airlines say that high tickets are due to increased fuel costs, problems with foreign exchange, and operational costs.
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