Director of Corporate Affairs, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Ondaje Ijagwu, has said the Commission has expanded its investigation into the sharp rise in domestic airfares, following an influx of consumer complaints over what passengers describe as exploitative pricing ahead of the festive season.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Ijagwu said the FCCPC is actively monitoring airline pricing practices and has widened an ongoing probe in response to growing public concern.
“One of the things we are mandated to do is to monitor economic activities and market conduct, and that is exactly what we are doing at the moment,” Ijagwu said.
He confirmed that the investigation, which began earlier, was expanded after consumer complaints emerged as a key trigger.
“We have had a lot of complaints in our office. We know that consumers are not having it easy, and as a result, we have commenced and expanded our investigation,” he said.
Ijagwu explained that the process would follow established regulatory stages, beginning with information gathering and analysis before any conclusions are drawn.
“We are gathering information. We are not making discoveries yet because these things happen in stages. When we gather information, we analyse it, and we may issue interrogatories. After that, we will make our findings public,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the timing of the investigation during the busy yuletide travel season, Ijagwu said abrupt fare increases without clear justification would be easier to scrutinise.
“If things have not changed from where they were and suddenly we see dramatic and drastic changes in pricing, then definitely we can figure things out,” he said.
He disclosed that the FCCPC is examining several possible violations, including price fixing, collusion, abuse of market dominance, and lack of pricing transparency.
“We are looking at market conduct. Are there issues of price fixing? Are there issues of collusion? Are there abuses of market dominance?” he asked.
Ijagwu stressed that consumer welfare is central to the Commission’s assessment, particularly whether airlines are transparent about how fares are determined.
“Are consumers able to tell why they are paying more? Is the pricing methodology transparent? Have there been genuine increases in fuel costs or taxes?” he said.
He warned that where airlines fail to justify fare increases within the law, sanctions would follow.
“If operators are not able to convince us that their pricing was done within the confines of the law, then definitely we will penalise,” he said.
On possible sanctions, Ijagwu said the FCCPC has a range of interim and enforcement tools at its disposal.
“We can issue cease-and-desist orders, notices of compliance, and if the matter drags and consumers continue to suffer, we will move fully into enforcement,” he said.
He added that airlines are legally required to cooperate with the investigation.
“The airlines have no choice. They must cooperate,” Ijagwu said.
While noting that consumers are primarily concerned about final ticket prices, Ijagwu clarified that the FCCPC’s main focus is how those prices are determined.
“What matters most to us as a regulator is the methodology used to arrive at those fares, not just the final price,” he said.
Ijagwu also said remedies could include sanctions and compensation where appropriate, depending on the findings.
“If our discoveries warrant penalties, we will impose them,” he concluded.
Boluwatife Enome
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