Senate summons Keyamo as domestic airfares jump to ₦600,000
The Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, along with major players in the aviation industry, following widespread outrage over the sudden and dramatic spike in domestic airfares. The decision came after Senator Buhari Abdulfatai raised a motion warning that the soaring ticket prices threaten national mobility and could trigger widespread travel disruption in the days ahead.
Senator Buhari told his colleagues that Nigerians have been lamenting for months as domestic flight prices continue to escalate. He revealed that a one-way Abuja–Lagos ticket now costs between ₦400,000 and ₦600,000, a figure that has pushed air travel out of the reach of many citizens. He noted that the situation is particularly troubling given the growing insecurity and difficulty associated with road travel.
He urged the Senate to urgently engage aviation stakeholders before the festive season, insisting that immediate action is necessary to prevent a national transportation crisis.
Several lawmakers supported the motion. Senator Adamu Aliero said the sudden fare surge was unacceptable, while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi condemned what he described as an unprecedented 400 percent increase. Nwebonyi criticised the long delay in establishing a national carrier, arguing that Nigeria is long overdue for one, and urged the aviation minister to take decisive action.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan argued that airline operators have already received significant concessions, especially regarding the cost of spare parts, and must therefore be held accountable for the fare hikes. But Senator Orji Kalu attempted to defend the airlines, citing rising operational costs and the escalating price of spare parts, a justification that drew loud disapproval from several senators.
The Senate resolved that Keyamo, airline operators, regulators and other industry stakeholders must appear before its committees this week to explain the reasons behind the skyrocketing fares and outline immediate steps to stabilise prices ahead of the holiday rush.