Travel Agencies Excited As Federal Gov’t Probes Airfare Hike

Susan Akporiaye, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has commended the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for announcing an investigation into the hike in airfare rates in Nigeria.

LEADERSHIP reported that NANTA, in response to the grievances of Nigerian travellers, had lodged complaints with the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the National Assembly Committee on Aviation to address the issue of increased ticket prices.

The association pointed out that the surge in airfare has not only made travel difficult for the public but has also negatively impacted trade in the country.

Mrs. Akporiaye expressed immense delight at the Federal Government’s response through its consumer protection and regulatory agency’s decision to delve into this persisting issue.

“We wish to express our gratitude to the Government, especially to Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, who has assured the sector of commencing investigations into the current airfare structure in Nigeria to establish a fair and acceptable regime,” she remarked.

In recent times, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye and her team initiated a robust advocacy campaign to promote ethical practices in the downstream sector of Nigeria’s aviation industry. She described Mr. Irukera’s announcement as a “Christmas and New Year gift” to travel agents who have borne the brunt of the fare hikes by airlines operating in Nigeria.

“This is a significant step, and we want to thank Mr. President for establishing FCCPC, led by a highly professional individual. Consequently, we are committed to providing the regulatory authority with any necessary information to restore order in fare management issues and alleviate the challenges faced by our Nigerian customers,” she pledged.

During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday to mark the year’s end, Babatunde Irukera stressed the need for a comprehensive investigation before decisive intervention.

He pledged to conduct a thorough inquiry into the high airfare regime in Nigeria, acknowledging the complexity of determining price hikes, especially in airfare.

“There are regulations against price gouging. Nigeria operates a free market economy where pricing is typically determined by buyer-seller agreements. As regulators, we cannot arbitrarily set prices. Hence, our approach is to investigate excessive pricing,” he explained.

Irukera highlighted that conducting forensic studies on airfare pricing poses the greatest challenge in market investigations. He illustrated that it’s plausible for individuals travelling short distances to pay varying prices, even if seated together.

Referring to the issue as a “competition problem,” Mr. Irukera noted the multifaceted aspects that require consideration when investigating airfare increases.

“While we acknowledge the high airfare in Nigeria, it would be inappropriate for the regulatory authority to act solely based on the perception of high prices. Our responsibility is to establish evidence and address the issue, which requires diligent effort,” clarified Irukera.