The Nigerian Senate summons aviation stakeholders to address soaring airfares on major domestic routes, demanding urgent relief for travellers
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), alongside major aviation stakeholders, over a sharp rise in domestic airfares.
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The action follows growing public concern as fares on key routes, including Abuja–Lagos, Abuja–Enugu, and Abuja–Ilorin, surged to between N400,000 and N650,000, a level many citizens can no longer afford.
During plenary, the Senate passed resolutions condemning the “sudden and excessive rise” in airfares and mandated the immediate summoning of all relevant industry players.
Committees were directed to present recommendations at the next session.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), noted that preliminary investigations show increasing numbers of Nigerians are unable to travel due to the hike.
He cited examples of flights from Abuja to Lagos now costing up to N650,000 and Abuja to Enugu reaching N500,000.
Senator Peter Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) highlighted that tickets previously sold at N150,000 to Enugu now cost N500,000, while Lagos–Abuja fares reached N560,000.
Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West) said airlines had already received multiple concessions on spare parts and should be accountable for price surges.
While Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) cited operational costs, inflation, and forex challenges as reasons for fare increases, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called the spikes “glaring exploitation,” noting that a civil servant earning the minimum wage would need six months’ salary to afford a one-way ticket.
The Senate resolved to summon the Minister of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and airline operators for an emergency meeting this week.
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The Red Chamber urged immediate interventions to curb what it termed “unwarranted extortion” and protect travellers ahead of the Christmas season.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
