NANTA had urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, and the National Assembly Committee on Aviation to intervene in the issue of exorbitant airfares.

These high prices had made life challenging for members of the Nigerian traveling public and had a detrimental impact on the survival of travel trade professionals in the country.

Akporiaye conveyed NANTA's satisfaction with the Federal Government's response through its consumer protection and regulatory agency addressing the matter.

In a recent interview, she stated, “We want to appreciate the government through the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, who has assured the sector that investigations would commence into the present structure of airfares in Nigeria and bring it to an acceptable regime.”

Akporiaye described Irukera’s announcement as “a Christmas and New Year gift” to travel agents who have borne the consequences of the fare hike by airlines operating in the country.

“This is it, and we want to appreciate Mr President for gifting us an FCCPC, headed by a thorough professional. And to this end, we will endeavour to help the regulatory authority with whatever information that can help bring back sanity to fare management issues and give some respite to our Nigerian customers,” she said.

Irukera had on Thursday in Abuja, while hosting the press to the end-of-year party, promised to run a detailed investigation into the high airfare regime in Nigeria.

He explained, “There’s a provision in law against price gouging. Nigeria is a free market economy where the buyer and seller agree to determine cost. Do we, as a regulator, have the power to impose prices? No, we don’t. So, one way to determine excessive pricing is through investigation.”

The FCCPC boss revealed that forensic studies in airfare pricing remained the most complex in the market investigation ecosystem, adding that it was possible to travel at a short distance and pay more, even with someone sitting beside you, paying something different.