Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | The Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, along with key industry stakeholders, to an interactive session following widespread public outrage over the sudden and steep rise in domestic air travel costs.
The resolution, passed on Tuesday, was triggered by a motion raised by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo State), who warned that the “soaring prices pose a serious threat to mobility and could trigger nationwide travel disruption in the coming days.”
Alarming Price Hikes and Security Concerns
Senator Abdulfatai highlighted the alarming escalation in flight prices, noting that a one-way ticket from Abuja to Lagos now reportedly costs between N400,000 and N600,000, an amount deemed unaffordable for the majority of citizens.
“We need to invite stakeholders of our airline agencies to interact and interrogate the issues. Immediate steps must be taken before the festive period,” Senator Abdulfatai stated during the debate.
The lawmaker further argued that the price hike is particularly distressing given the increasing difficulty and security challenges faced on major highways, making air travel a critical necessity rather than a luxury for many Nigerians.
Senate Condemns Price Increases and Demands Accountability
Other senators echoed strong disapproval of the price instability. Senator Adamu Aliero described the fare increase as “unacceptable.” Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi condemned what he termed an “unheard-of 400 percent increment” and urged Minister Keyamo to expedite the establishment of a national carrier.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan stressed that airline operators have previously been granted significant concessions, particularly concerning the cost of spare parts, and must therefore be held accountable for the current price hikes.
Though Senator Orji Kalu attempted to justify the airlines’ actions by citing rising operational costs and the soaring price of spare parts, his explanation was met with disapproval from several lawmakers.
Immediate Action Demanded
The Senate unanimously agreed that Minister Keyamo, airline operators, industry regulators, and other relevant stakeholders must appear before its relevant committees this week.
The goal of the urgent interaction is to:
- Clarify the fundamental reasons behind the exorbitant and unstable domestic airfares, and
- Chart an immediate path toward stabilizing prices ahead of the critical holiday travel season.
