A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, A.U. Mustapha, has petitioned the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission over alleged discriminatory and exploitative pricing by Overland Airways on the Lagos-Ilorin-Abuja route.
In a petition obtained by Lens.ng and dated August 4, 2025, the legal luminary accused the airline of charging passengers traveling shorter distances significantly higher fares than those covering longer routes on the same flight.
According to the petition addressed to FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello, passengers flying from Lagos to Ilorin (50 minutes) are charged ₦260,000, while those traveling the full Lagos-Abuja route (2 hours 15 minutes) pay only ₦160,000.
The petition, filed on behalf of The Third Estate and Like Minds Foundation, revealed that passengers traveling from Ilorin to Abuja pay ₦300,000 for a 55-minute flight.
“Effectively, the same seat yields ₦560,000 from passengers traveling in segments (Lagos-Ilorin-Abuja), compared to ₦160,000 paid by a passenger who travels the full distance,” the petition stated.
Mustapha cited recent fare inquiries conducted on July 23, 2025, showing that while Abuja to Lagos costs ₦160,000 for economy class, Abuja to Ilorin costs ₦240,000 despite being a shorter distance.
The petition noted that Overland Airways enjoys monopoly status as the sole commercial airline operating from General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, enabling the alleged exploitative practices.
“Passengers, in an effort to avoid the high Lagos-Ilorin fare, began booking Lagos-Abuja tickets and disembarking at Ilorin. In response, Overland Airways reportedly began checking boarding passes at Ilorin to prevent such workaround,” the petition alleged.
The legal practitioner argued that the airline’s practices violate multiple sections of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, including provisions against abuse of dominant market position and discriminatory pricing.
Mustapha requested the FCCPC to investigate Overland Airways’ pricing practices, declare the current fare regime discriminatory and anti-consumer, and direct the airline to cease the alleged abusive practices.
The petition was copied to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Ona Najumo.