The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) has expressed its support for the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) ongoing investigation into allegations of exploitation by Air Peace. The association also urged the commission to expand its scope to include other airlines operating in Nigeria.
This was revealed in a statement by the association’s president, Yinka Folami, emphasising NANTA’s commitment to advocating fair practices in the downstream aviation sector while prioritising equitable market policies and consumer protection.
The FCCPC recently launched an inquiry into consumer complaints against Air Peace, Guaranty Trust Bank, and MTN, focusing on poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and potential consumer rights violations. According to the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the investigation aims to address systemic issues affecting Nigerian consumers.
Air Peace, however, denied the allegations, asserting that the aviation sector is regulated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and that any concerns about the industry should follow established procedures.
In his statement, Folami reiterated the FCCPC’s role as Nigeria’s primary authority for competition and consumer protection, as mandated by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018. “We support the protection of consumer rights against anti-consumer services and discriminatory pricing,” he said. He also called for inquiries into arbitrary pricing structures in both domestic and international airfares.
Folami pointed out an imbalance between basic fares and taxes, particularly YQ taxes (fuel surcharge/emergency taxes), which he said should be more transparent to ensure fairness for Nigerian travelers. He highlighted other critical issues, such as significant delays, cancellations, and inadequate customer care, which he argued require urgent attention.
“There is an increasing imbalance between taxes and basic fares. Inquiry into cross-border trading practices, which are price-discriminatory and extractive to our economy, is also needed,” he added. Folami emphasised that the aviation sector demands high consumer-centric standards and collaboration to ensure consumer rights are respected.
The association criticised domestic airlines for referring to global pricing structures selectively and making advance ticket purchasing nearly impossible in recent months, effectively blocking passengers from accessing lower fares.
“Our local airline players refer to the global pricing structure only when it is convenient. For example, globally, tickets can be purchased in advance. But on domestic routes, it has been impossible since September 2024 to purchase tickets for December 2024 at lower fares,” Folami explained. He described this practice as arbitrary and aligned with FCCPC’s concerns about discriminatory pricing.
Folami concluded by affirming NANTA’s willingness to support the FCCPC’s efforts, stating, “This inquiry is long overdue. If collaboratively executed, it will benefit Nigerian travelers and the broader market.”
