The Senate has called on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and major stakeholders in the aviation sector for an urgent briefing following the nationwide outcry over the sudden spike in domestic flight prices.
The summons came after Senator Buhari Abdulfatai raised a motion expressing concern that the rising fares could hinder movement across the country and potentially trigger serious travel challenges in the coming days.
Senator Buhari explained that Nigerians have been complaining about the high cost of tickets, noting that a one-way flight from Abuja to Lagos now costs between N400,000 and N600,000. He pointed out that with insecurity worsening on many highways, the soaring ticket prices leave travelers with very limited safe options. He urged the Senate to act quickly before the festive season begins.
Senator Orji Kalu attempted to defend the airlines, linking the price surge to higher operational costs and expensive spare parts, but many lawmakers disagreed sharply with his stance.
At the end of the debate, the Senate agreed unanimously to summon the aviation minister, airline operators, regulators and other key stakeholders to explain the continuous rise in fares and discuss what can be done to make domestic flights more affordable.
