Government Has No Power to Fix Airfares — Aviation Minister Keyamo Speaks as Ticket Prices Hit ₦1m
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has clarified that the Federal Government cannot regulate the cost of domestic flight tickets, despite the recent surge in airfares reportedly climbing to as high as ₦1 million.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Keyamo addressed public concerns over the escalating prices, stating clearly that the aviation sector operates under full deregulation.
“The government has absolutely no power to fix prices for private enterprises, including the aviation industry,” he said. According to him, airlines independently determine their fares based on market forces, operational costs, and other economic realities, not government directives.
Keyamo further explained that deregulation was designed to allow competition and flexibility within the sector, which means pricing decisions lie squarely with airline operators. He called on Nigerians to understand that government intervention in airfare pricing would be unlawful under the current structure.
He, however, noted that while the government can create enabling policies and improve aviation infrastructure, it cannot dictate how much airlines should charge, leaving fare adjustments entirely to the operators.