The Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, along with key industry stakeholders, for an urgent interactive meeting to address the sharp and widely criticized surge in domestic airfares across Nigeria.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, who warned that the escalating prices threaten national mobility and could severely disrupt travel ahead of the critical festive season.
Soaring Prices and Public Outcry
Checks confirmed that one-way airfare on some domestic routes, particularly those serving the South-South and South-East regions, has jumped by up to 150 per cent, with some tickets reportedly crossing the N300,000 mark.
Prior to the festive period, tickets on domestic routes generally hovered around N120,000. However, Senator Buhari highlighted that certain one-way fares from Abuja to Lagos now range between N400,000 and N600,000—a price point he noted is unaffordable for many citizens.
The Senator emphasized the urgency of the matter, given the growing security challenges on major highways, which make road travel increasingly difficult.
Lawmakers Condemn Surge
During the debate, several senators voiced strong opposition to the price increases. Senator Adamu Aliero deemed the hike “unacceptable,” while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi condemned what he described as a “400 per cent increase” and criticized delays in establishing a national carrier.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan argued that airline operators had already received multiple government concessions, particularly on spare parts, and should therefore be held accountable for the current price surge.
Although Senator Orji Kalu attempted to justify the increases by citing rising operational costs and expensive spare parts, his defense was met with strong objections from fellow lawmakers.
The Senate ultimately directed Minister Keyamo, airline operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to appear before the relevant committees this week. The mandate is to explain the sudden fare hikes and propose immediate, decisive measures to stabilize prices ahead of the high-demand holiday travel season.
