Amid growing public frustration over the sudden and steep increase in domestic air travel costs, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has provided a detailed explanation for the Federal Government’s inability to directly control air ticket prices.
In a recent appearance on Arise Television, on Wednesday, the 10th of December, 2025, Minister Keyamo clarified the legal and economic constraints that prevent state involvement in airline pricing.
He stressed that the fundamental structure of the Nigerian aviation sector operates on market principles.
The Minister’s core argument rests on the principle of a free-market economy, stating unequivocally: “The government has absolutely no power to fix prices for private enterprises, including the aviation industry.”
He elaborated that direct government price control is incompatible with a liberalized system, further emphasizing: “The government can’t do anything about the hike in airfare ticket prices because the aviation industry has been deregulated.”
The Minister’s comments come at a time when the Senate has reportedly summoned Keyamo and key industry stakeholders for an urgent engagement to address the public outcry.
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Supporting the market-driven explanation, the President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN), Dr. Alex Nwuba, offered an industry perspective.
He noted that the current surge is largely a function of supply and demand, explaining that the price hikes serve as necessary compensation for the reduced fares airlines offered during previous low seasons. This natural market balancing is a characteristic of a deregulated sector.
In essence, the message from the government and key industry players is clear: until the underlying economic variables such as foreign exchange stability and the cost of Jet A1 fuel are addressed, the ticket prices will continue to reflect market realities, with the government adhering strictly to a non-interventionist price policy in the deregulated aviation landscape.