The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced an intensified investigation into alleged manipulation of airline ticket fares on certain domestic routes.
The Commission said that the move follows public inquires aimed at determining whether any provisions of the law have been violated.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, on Friday.
“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 partly reads.
Ijagwu noted that the investigation targets operators on the identified routes and recalled that Air Peace had earlier instituted a court action seeking to restrain the Commission from examining its pricing mechanisms, following the commencement of an investigation into its pricing model after widespread complaints from members of the public.
He added that the current inquiry is without prejudice to the case filed by the airline.
On his part, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, clarified: “For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board. But the FCCPA 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers. When we receive petitions or where we find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise.”
Bello emphasised that the Commission will not hesitate to act where evidence shows that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined.
“Section 17(b) of the FCCPA empowers the Commission to monitor economic activities in Nigeria to identify anti-competitive, anti-consumer protection and restrictive practices that may adversely affect consumers. Section 17(e) which enables the Commission to carry out investigations considered necessary,” he explained.
The FCCPC boss reiterated that while the Commission is not a price control body, fair pricing is a core objective of the FCCPA.
“The Act establishes a comprehensive framework that protects consumers from excessive, opaque, misleading, or collusive pricing practices while promoting competitive markets that deliver products and services at prices determined through fair market dynamics,” he stressed.
“Given the arbitrary spike in airfares, the Commission is extending its review of pricing patterns, the basis for the increases reported by consumers, and any practices that could undermine fair competition.”
Bello assured that where evidence confirms a breach of the Act, the Commission will apply appropriate enforcement measures.
He added that the Commission will provide further updates on the ongoing aviation investigation in due course.
