Outrage as domestic airfares hit N500,000

Nigerians have expressed outrage over the soaring cost of domestic flight tickets during the Christmas season, with fares on some routes climbing to as high as N500,000.

The issue sparked heated debate at the Senate this week, where lawmakers lamented the rising cost of air travel. Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi said a one-way ticket from Abuja to Enugu on December 13 cost N500,000 with Air Peace and N460,000 on Ibom Air, describing the fares as shocking.

Other senators disclosed that flights from Abuja to Lagos now range between N400,000 and N650,000, while trips to Kebbi, Ilorin and Enugu also cost hundreds of thousands of naira.

Social media users also criticised the airlines, with some questioning how flights of less than one hour could cost nearly half a million naira.

While Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said the government cannot fix prices for private airlines, stakeholders argue that heavy taxes and charges—accounting for more than 50 per cent of ticket costs—give the government a role in addressing the problem.

Airlines, however, blame high operational costs.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria said multiple taxes and charges are a major driver of high fares, while United Nigeria Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Raphael Uchegbu, defended festive pricing, citing demand, empty return flights and high fuel and airport charges.

Despite the backlash, Uchegbu said airlines have not significantly increased fares compared to last year, insisting that current prices reflect seasonal travel realities and rising operating costs.