Bolaji Idowu
The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, along with airline operators, regulators and other key stakeholders, following widespread complaints over the sharp increase in domestic airfares across the country.
The decision followed a motion raised by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North), who warned that the escalating cost of air travel could disrupt national mobility and hinder movements ahead of the forthcoming festive season.
Citing recent fare trends, Senator Abdulfatai said one-way airfares on several domestic routes, especially to the South-South and South-East, have risen by about 150 per cent in recent weeks, with some tickets now exceeding N300,000. He noted that before the Yuletide period, average domestic fares were around N120,000.
An analysis of airline ticket prices on Tuesday showed significant increases across major routes, with some flights now costing more than double their pre-festive rates. The senator added that a one-way ticket from Abuja to Lagos currently sells for between N400,000 and N600,000, a price many Nigerians can no longer afford.
He described the situation as more worrisome given the prevailing insecurity and deteriorating conditions on major highways, which have made air travel the safer option for many citizens.
“We need to urgently invite relevant stakeholders to interrogate these issues and take immediate steps before the festive period,” Abdulfatai said during the plenary.
Other senators echoed similar concerns. Senator Adamu Aliero described the fare hikes as unacceptable, while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi condemned what he termed a “400 per cent increase” and criticised the continued delay in establishing a national carrier.
Nwebonyi urged the aviation minister to take decisive action to protect Nigerians from excessive pricing.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan also noted that airline operators have benefited from several government concessions, particularly on spare parts, and argued that such reliefs should reflect in ticket prices.
However, Senator Orji Kalu attempted to justify the increases, attributing them to rising operational costs and the high price of aircraft spare parts. His comments, however, drew strong objections from several lawmakers.
At the end of the debate, the Senate mandated Mr Keyamo, airline operators, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to appear before the relevant committees this week to explain the reasons for the fare hikes and propose measures to stabilise ticket prices ahead of the holiday travel rush.