The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, have voiced contrasting opinions regarding an ongoing investigation into Air Peace.
The FCCPC recently announced its probe into alleged consumer exploitation and violations of customer rights within the aviation sector, specifically involving Air Peace. However, Keyamo criticized the commission’s approach, describing its public statements as “careless” for bypassing the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the primary aviation regulatory body.
During an ARISE TV interview on Sunday, Keyamo stated:
“The powers to regulate and oversee airline pricing rest with the NCAA. For the FCCPC to act without consulting them shows a lack of coordination. Such a careless statement unfairly targets struggling airlines trying to position themselves globally.”
Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, also alleged that the FCCPC was being influenced by external parties against the airline.
In response, the FCCPC defended its actions in a statement issued by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu. The commission warned Air Peace against obstructing its inquiry and reaffirmed its mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 to investigate exploitative pricing and consumer rights violations across all sectors, including aviation.
The FCCPC clarified:
“Passengers are consumers with inalienable rights guaranteed under the FCCPA. Section 17(e) mandates us to conduct inquiries into matters falling under our purview. Additionally, Section 127(1)(a) empowers us to ensure fair, competitive, and non-exploitative pricing practices.”
The regulatory body also criticized Air Peace’s understanding of the legal framework, emphasizing that their intervention aligns with both consumer protection and competitive fairness.
The disagreement highlights the complexities of regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with both parties standing firm on their positions.
