The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says airlines that sharply increased ticket prices during the 2025 Christmas season may be required to refund passengers who paid inflated fares.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Tunji Bello, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, the commission has completed investigations into allegations of price manipulation involving about five or six airlines and will soon release its final report along with possible penalties.
Bello explained that ticket prices, which usually ranged between about N145,000 and N150,000, surged dramatically to between N400,000 and N670,000 during the Christmas period, triggering complaints from travellers.
He said the FCCPC launched an investigation after receiving reports that airlines may have coordinated their pricing during the festive season.
The preliminary findings, he noted, indicate that the airlines were involved in a form of price-fixing, a practice considered anti-competitive under Nigerian law.
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As part of the measures being considered, the commission may direct the airlines to refund the excess fares collected from affected passengers.
Although Bello confirmed that several airlines were under investigation, he declined to disclose their names.
The probe followed widespread complaints from Nigerians who travelled during the Christmas and New Year holidays and said they were forced to pay extremely high fares due to limited seat availability and increased demand.
Meanwhile, the commission also addressed public concerns about electricity tariff classifications. An Executive Commissioner at the FCCPC, Louis Odion, stated that the agency does not regulate prices but works to ensure that consumers are not exploited in the pricing of goods and services.
He added that many consumer complaints currently arise from the electricity sector, particularly regarding service delivery under the Band A tariff system.
