By Attah Ede
The Senate on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and major players in the aviation industry for an emergency session over the sudden rise in domestic airfares in Nigeria.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North).
Abdulfatah warned that the rising prices on airfares pose a threat to national mobility and could severely disrupt travel during the fast-approaching festive season.
In the last few days, airfare on some domestic routes, particularly on the South-South and South-East routes, has increased by about 150 per cent, crossing N300,000.
Senator Buhari said the surge has triggered widespread complaints from Nigerians, noting that the rising insecurity on major highways leaves many citizens with few travel alternatives.
“We need to invite stakeholders of our airline agencies to interact and interrogate these issues. Immediate steps must be taken before the festive period,” he said.
In his submissions, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi decried what he termed a “400 per cent increase” in fares and faulted the delayed establishment of a national carrier. He called on the aviation minister to intervene decisively.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West) also said airlines have enjoyed significant concessions, especially on the importation of spare parts, and should account for the sudden increase in airfares.
However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), offered a different perspective, citing the rising cost of aviation fuel, maintenance, and imported components.
His defence was met with stiff resistance from colleagues who insisted that the burden should not be transferred to already-strained passengers.
The Senate consequently mandated the minister, Keyamo, airline operators, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders to appear before its aviation committee this week to explain the price hikes and outline measures to stabilise fares ahead of the holiday travel period.
