Nigeria FCCPC Expands Airfare Probe

The Nigeria — Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has expanded its investigation into airline ticket pricing on domestic routes in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions. This decision follows numerous public complaints about alleged exploitative and arbitrary fare increases. The FCCPC aims to examine pricing templates and identify any coordinated manipulation or anti-competitive practices. The commission clarified that it is not a price control board but is empowered by the FCCPA 2018 to prevent consumer exploitation. This expanded probe proceeds without prejudice to a previous lawsuit filed by Air Peace, a major carrier, seeking to restrain the FCCPC from scrutinizing its pricing models. Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of FCCPC, emphasized the commission's commitment to acting decisively where consumer welfare or market competitiveness is undermined. Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, confirmed the investigation's focus on operators on identified routes and the application of appropriate enforcement measures if violations are established.