From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has expanded its investigation into airline ticket pricing following rising complaints over high fares on some domestic routes.
The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, amid public concerns over what it described as possible exploitation or coordinated manipulation of airfares, particularly on South-East and South-South routes as the festive season approaches.
According to the statement, the expanded probe will examine pricing templates used by some airlines on identified routes to determine whether there are violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
The commission noted that the investigation is ongoing and targets operators on the affected routes.
It recalled that earlier in the year, Air Peace instituted a court action seeking to restrain the FCCPC from examining its pricing mechanisms, following the commencement of an investigation into its fare structure after widespread consumer complaints.
The FCCPC clarified that the current inquiry is without prejudice to the pending court case instituted by the airline.
Speaking on the development, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Tunji Bello, said the FCCPC was not a price control body but had a statutory responsibility to protect consumers from 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. When we receive petitions or find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise,” Bello said.
He added that the commission would not hesitate to act where evidence shows that consumer welfare or market competitiveness is being undermined.
Ijagwu explained that Section 17(b) of the FCCPA empowers the commission to monitor economic activities to identify anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices, while Section 17(e) authorises it to conduct investigations considered necessary.
Although the FCCPC does not regulate prices, the statement said fair pricing remains a core objective of the Act, which seeks to protect consumers from excessive, opaque, misleading or collusive pricing practices and promote competitive markets.
The commission said it was extending its review of pricing patterns, the basis for reported fare increases and any practices that could undermine fair competition.
It warned that where evidence confirms a breach of the law, appropriate enforcement measures would be applied, adding that further updates on the aviation investigation would be provided in due course.