By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Outraged by the astronomical increase in the air fares charged by local airline operators ,the Senate on Tuesday December 9, 2025, resolved to invite key operators including the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo SAN.
The Source reports that following the approach of the Yuletide, airlines, particularly those operating on the South East and South South routes have hiked their fares by as much as over 100 per cent .
Operators on the Abuja/Owerri and ,Lagos/Owerri routes are believed to be charging as much as between N600,000.and N 700,000, while the Abuja/Port Harcourt and Lagos/Port Harcourt routes attract as much as between N550, 000 and N600,000.
The worst hit however remains the South East region where the only two dominant airlines- Air peace and United Airlines have seemingly priced themselves out of the reach of most travellers , desperate to avoid the dangerous and kidnappers- infested road network.
The Senate while roundly condemning the development, also described it as totally outrageous and unacceptable.
The Senate said it has resolved to urgently look into the circumstances surrounding the unprecedented extortionist tendencies of the airline operators, especially during this festive season.
The Senate has therefore mandated its committee on aviation ,to immediately invite the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, Heads of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, and other relevant stakeholders within the industry.
The invited stakeholders are expected to interact with the Senate Committee before the Lawmakers proceed on Christmas and New year break in two weeks time.
Moving the motion seeking the Senate intervention, the Aviation Committee Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North, lamented that local travellers have been subjected to a regime of outrageous airfares, with some airlines said to be charging as much as N 500,000 and N 650 ,000 for a one-way ticket , instead of the usual N150,000 or N 250,000 .
Similarly, other Senators who contributed to the debate on Tuesday also expressed concern that airlines are now exploiting Nigerian air travellers beyond measure .
According to Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, Air peace has put its price for South East routes at N500,000 and N450,000 by Akwa Ibom Air .
The Senators noted that such astronomical fares are well beyond the reach of average salary earners in the country,who may have to save for up to five months to be able to afford a single ticket.
The Lawmakers also expressed serious concern that the fare increase is coming at a time there is stability in the prices of aviation fuel .
This is as they dismissed the airline operators’ claim of increase in the prices of spare parts.
Ruling on the motion, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed his total support for the Senate intervention, noting that travellers are being exploited at every little opportunity.
The Senate President equally expressed shock and surprise that the sharp increase in air fares is coming, even with the presence of Nigeria Air.
Instructively, Senator Orji Kalu, (Abia North), who attempted to justify the increase in airfares was overwhelmingly shouted down.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
