The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced an expansion of its ongoing investigation into airline ticket pricing, following growing public concern over rising fares on routes serving the South-East and South-South regions.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission said the expanded probe is aimed at determining possible violations of the law amid increasing complaints from air travellers.

“Concerns have been expressed widely in the past few days over what appears to be coordinated manipulation or exploitation in the pricing of airline tickets by some airlines on certain routes, especially in the South-East and South-South, as the festive season begins,” the statement said.

Ijagwu recalled that earlier in the year Air Peace instituted a court action seeking to restrain the Commission from examining its pricing mechanisms after the FCCPC commenced an investigation into its pricing model following widespread public complaints. He clarified, however, that the current expansion of the inquiry is without prejudice to the case instituted by the airline.

Providing further insight into the Commission’s mandate, the FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, stressed that the agency is not a price control body but is empowered by law to prevent consumer exploitation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board. But the FCCPA 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers,” Bello said.
“When we receive petitions or where we find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise.”

According to the statement, Bello emphasised that the Commission would act decisively wherever evidence shows that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined.

The FCCPC cited Section 17(b) of the FCCPA, which authorises it to monitor economic activities and identify anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices, as well as Section 17(e), which empowers it to conduct necessary investigations.

While reiterating that it is not a price-fixing agency, the Commission noted that fair pricing remains a core objective of the FCCPA, which seeks to protect consumers from excessive, opaque, misleading, or collusive pricing practices while promoting competitive markets.

In response to reports of arbitrary fare increases, the FCCPC said it is currently reviewing pricing patterns, the justification for the increases reported by consumers, and any practices that may undermine fair competition.

“Where evidence confirms a breach of the Act, FCCPC will apply appropriate enforcement measures. The Commission will provide further updates on the ongoing aviation investigation in due course,” the statement added.