FCCPC yet to release findings on alleged airline exploitation — NCAA

By Dickson Omobola

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Wednesday, disclosed that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has yet to submit its findings on the controversial hike in air fares during the Yuletide season.

Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, however, maintained his earlier position that the reasons given by some airline operators, especially multiple taxation, for the fare increase were unconvincing.

Achimugu’s said this less than a month after the FCCPC said some airlines involved in arbitrarily hiking airfares during the Christmas period would soon face penalties, as the investigation panel set up to probe the allegations of inflated ticket prices had concluded its work.

Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, had said the airlines that exploited travellers during Christmas would refund the excess charges to passengers.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Achimugu said: “The FCCPC did not submit reports to my office, so I do not know what they found out. All I know is that in December, I disagreed with the reason for the hike in air fares as stated by some operators. They alleged that it was due to taxes, but I didn’t agree with that and I still stand by that.”

The NCAA Director also said, compared to the last quarter of last year, there had been a reduction in flight disruptions.

He, however, added that as the industry re-enters the rainy season, there was an expectation of disruptions.

He said: “The (flight disruptions) numbers were impressive and encouraging, especially because immediately after the festive period, there was a drop in the number of passengers. The number of disruptions, I just checked last week, has improved compared to the last quarter of last year. However, we are entering the rainy season as well, so there’s an expectation that there will be disruptions.

“Take note that there are other factors that cause these disruptions. And recently, the Minister hosted the Aircraft Acquisition Summit and the report from that event is very encouraging. 2026 will be a better year for aviation in Nigeria as per flight disruptions because more aircraft are coming in. Deals have been signed already.”

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