The Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside major industry stakeholders, for an emergency session following nationwide outrage over the sharp and sudden increase in domestic airfares.
The decision came after Senator Buhari Abdulfatai raised a motion on the floor of the Senate, cautioning that the escalating ticket prices pose a serious threat to mobility and could trigger significant travel disruptions in the coming days.
Presenting the motion, Senator Buhari lamented that Nigerians have endured months of steadily rising airfares, with the situation worsening in recent weeks. According to him, a one-way flight from Abuja to Lagos now costs between ₦400,000 and ₦600,000, a price far beyond the reach of most travellers.
The Oyo North senator described the development as particularly alarming considering the growing insecurity and difficulties associated with travelling by road.
“We need to invite stakeholders from our airline agencies to interact and interrogate these issues. Immediate action must be taken before the festive season,” he stressed during last ,Tuesday’s plenary.
Senator Adamu Aliero condemned the fare hike as “unacceptable,” while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi criticised what he termed an unprecedented 400 percent increase in ticket prices.
He also questioned the prolonged delay in establishing a national carrier, insisting that the country is long overdue for one and urging Minister Keyamo to provide decisive leadership.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan noted that airline operators have benefited from numerous government concessions—particularly in the procurement of spare parts—and should therefore be held responsible for the unjustifiable price surge.
However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu attempted to defend the airlines, citing rising operational costs and the soaring price of spare parts.
His remarks were met with strong disapproval from many of his colleagues.
After extensive deliberation, the Senate resolved that Minister Keyamo, airline operators, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders must appear before its relevant committees within the week. Their mandate: to explain the reasons behind the escalating fares and to outline urgent measures to stabilise prices ahead of the Yuletide travel rush.
