The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has signalled that domestic airlines could be forced to refund passengers who paid unusually high fares during the 2025 Christmas travel rush, following an investigation into suspected price-fixing.
The move was announced by Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), during a briefing with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
Bello said the commission had completed an investigation into allegations that several airlines coordinated ticket prices during the December 2025 Yuletide travel season. According to him, the probe covered about five or six airlines, although their names have not yet been publicly disclosed.
He explained that ticket prices that normally ranged between about ₦145,000 and ₦150,000 surged dramatically during the festive period, with some travellers reporting fares as high as ₦400,000 to ₦670,000 for the same routes. The spike triggered widespread complaints from passengers who accused airlines of exploiting high seasonal demand.
Preliminary Findings
The FCCPC said its preliminary findings suggest that airlines may have engaged in a form of collective price-fixing, an anti-competitive practice in which competitors coordinate to set prices rather than allowing normal market competition to determine them.
According to Bello, the commission has already concluded that the airlines involved may have violated provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, and a final report outlining sanctions will be issued soon.
He added that beyond the usual penalties or fines payable to the government, the commission is considering compelling airlines to refund passengers who paid what it described as exploitative fares during the holiday period.
Many Nigerians who travelled during Christmas and New Year had taken to social media to complain about the sharp increase in ticket prices, arguing that the hikes were excessive given the economic pressures facing households.
Bello reiterated that the FCCPC does not function as a price-control agency but intervenes when there is evidence of consumer exploitation or anti-competitive behaviour in the market.
