The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside major airline operators and regulators, following widespread public outrage over the rapid increase in domestic airfares ahead of the Christmas and New Year travel season.
The decision followed a motion sponsored by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, who warned that the skyrocketing prices pose a threat to national mobility and could disrupt holiday travel plans for millions of Nigerians.
Recent price checks show that one-way tickets on several domestic routes—especially those heading to the South-South and South-East—have risen by as much as 200 per cent. Many fares now exceed N300,000, compared to an average of N120,000 before the yearly travel rush. Tickets for the Abuja–Lagos route were also reported between N400,000 and N600,000, raising further concern among passengers already struggling with rising living costs.
During plenary, Abdulfatai said the Senate had received numerous complaints from Nigerians who can “no longer afford domestic air travel,” despite insecurity and poor road conditions that make flying the safer option.
His concerns were echoed across the chamber. Senator Adamu Aliero described the fare increase as “unacceptable,” while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi noted a “400 per cent jump,” blaming delays in establishing a national carrier. He urged the minister to take decisive action to protect consumers.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan reminded lawmakers that airline operators had enjoyed several government concessions, including waivers on spare parts, and should not burden citizens with excessive pricing.
However, Senator Orji Kalu defended the operators, citing rising operational costs driven by the high price of aviation fuel and imported spare parts. His stance was strongly opposed by several lawmakers who insisted the hike was unjustifiable.
In its resolution, the Senate directed Keyamo, airline operators, regulatory agencies, and all relevant stakeholders to appear before the appropriate committees this week. The lawmakers expect clear explanations for the price hikes and immediate plans to stabilise fares ahead of the Christmas and New Year travel boom.
