By Abubakar Yunusa
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it may ask airlines found to have fixed ticket prices during the Christmas period to refund passengers who paid excessive fares.
The FCCPC had, in December 2025, announced an industry-wide probe following widespread complaints over sharp increases in airfares during the holiday period.
In its preliminary report released on February 26, the commission said it has uncovered patterns of price manipulation by some domestic airlines during the December 2025 festive season, with ticket price differences on certain routes reaching as high as N405,000.
Speaking on Thursday at the State House meet-the-press session, Tunji Bello, executive vice-chairman (EVC) of the commission, said preliminary investigations into the matter have been concluded, and the agency is now considering penalties.
“The preliminary report is ready. We’ve already found them wanting in that regard. We are now on the issue of penalties,” the EVC said.
“The final report is going to be issued very soon and what we are also considering is to look at the situation where we will have to ask them to refund the excess to the passengers which we assume they exploited.”
The FCCPC boss, however, declined to disclose the names of the airlines involved, saying about five or six operators were under investigation.
“I don’t want to mention the airlines. There are many of them. I know about five or six were involved, but I don’t want to mention names for now,” he said.
‘FCCPC PROBING CEMENT PRICES’
Bello also said the commission has commenced an investigation into cement prices across the country.
He said the probe followed a report submitted to the agency, noting that an investigative team had already been set up.
“We have set up an investigative team already. By the time we come out with our full report, it will be published and everybody will see,” the FCCPC boss said.
The vice-chairman added that the commission would take all necessary measures once the investigation is concluded.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
