Senate summons aviation minister as domestic airfares skyrocket ahead of festive rush
The Senate has summoned Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo alongside major players in the aviation industry for an emergency meeting following mounting public anger over a dramatic spike in domestic flight prices.
The directive was issued during Tuesday’s plenary after Senator Buhari Abdulfatai raised concerns that the soaring fares threaten national mobility at a time when millions of Nigerians are preparing for holiday travel.
Senator Buhari, who led the debate, said ticket prices have climbed to unprecedented levels, noting that a one-way trip between Abuja and Lagos now ranges from N400,000 to N600,000—a figure far beyond the reach of most travellers.
He warned that unless urgent steps were taken, many Nigerians might be unable to move across the country during the festive season.
He added that the situation is worsened by the insecurity and deteriorating conditions on major highways, which have already pushed many people to depend heavily on air travel.
Several senators backed the call for immediate intervention.
Senator Adamu Aliero described the spike in fares as “unacceptable,” while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi criticised what he said amounted to a 400 per cent increase, an escalation, he argued, that defies logic.
Nwebonyi questioned why the long-promised national carrier has yet to materialise and urged the Aviation Minister to provide answers, saying Nigeria can no longer delay establishing its own airline.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan also expressed dissatisfaction, noting that operators have, over time, received significant waivers and concessions, particularly relating to aircraft maintenance and spare parts.
He argued that such benefits should have reflected in more affordable ticket prices.
However, former Abia governor Senator Orji Uzor Kalu offered a contrasting perspective, pointing to rising operational costs, including the steep price of aviation spare parts.
His remarks were met with audible disagreement from many colleagues who insisted that airlines must justify the current cost structure.
Following the heated deliberations, the Senate resolved that Keyamo, airline executives, aviation regulators, and related stakeholders must appear before its committees within the week.
The goal, senators said, is to uncover the root causes of the price surge and explore immediate measures to stabilise the sector before travel demand peaks in the coming days.
The Senate’s move comes amid widespread public frustration, with many Nigerians turning to social media to complain that domestic air travel has become nearly inaccessible for the average citizen.
As the holiday season approaches, lawmakers said they expect clear explanations and concrete solutions—from the aviation leadership.
