A non-governmental organisation, The Third Estate and Like Minds Foundation, has petitioned the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged exploitative and unjustifiable pricing practices by Overland Airways on the Lagos to Ilorin to Abuja air route.

In the petition dated August4, 2025, by the law firm of A.U. Mustapha & Co., the NGO accused the airways of implementing a double-the-price system unfairly targeted at passengers flying into Ilorin.

The petition read, “We respectfully bring to your attention a matter of urgent concern regarding the obnoxious practices and the unscrupulous exploitation of consumers employed by Overland Airways, particularly on the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja flight route.

“Overland Airways currently enjoys a monopoly as the sole commercial airline operating in and out of the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin. This dominant market position has enabled the airline to impose a pattern of exploitative, discriminatory, and unjustifiable pricing, particularly on the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja route. Our clients, alongside numerous passengers, have reported alarming disparities in ticket pricing for the same flight, which merely uses Ilorin as a stopover.”

The petition said while a passenger flying from Abuja to Lagos via Ilorin paid ₦160,000, a passenger disembarking in Ilorin from the same flight was charged as much as ₦260,000, adding a new passenger boarding in Ilorin to continue to Lagos paid ₦300,000 all for the same flight.

It added, “Ilorin-bound passengers are consistently charged disproportionately higher fares, despite travelling a shorter distance. To illustrate: passenger A: LOS–ABV (2hr 15mins) = ₦160,000 (Annexure 1); passenger B: LOS–ILR (50mins) = ₦260,000 (Annexure 2); and passenger C: ILR–ABV (55mins) = ₦300,000 (Annexure 3).’’

According to the petition, the same seat yielded ₦560,000 from passengers B and C, compared to ₦160,000 paid by passenger A who travelled the full distance, noting the irrational and exploitative fare structure had caused significant hardship to Ilorin-bound passengers. 

“Further evidence from fare inquiries on 23rd July 2025 for travel on 7th or 8th August 2025 confirms the following rates: Abuja to Ilorin (50mins) – ₦240,000; Abuja to Jalingo (1hr 05mins) – ₦160,000; Abuja to Akure (1hr) – ₦180,000; Abuja to Lagos (1hr 10mins) – ₦160,000 (economy) & ₦230,000 (premium),” it noted.

The NGO said the least fare to Ilorin exceeded the highest premium fare to Lagos, confirming that these prices were arbitrary and not distance based.

The petition indicated, “Moreover, our clients have informed us that passengers, in an effort to avoid the high LOS–ILR fare, began booking LOS–ABV tickets and disembarking at ILR. In response, Overland Airways reportedly began checking boarding passes at ILR to prevent such workaround; a clear indicator of intentional and structured exploitation.” 

Citing sections of the FCCPC Act of 2018, the NGO urged the commission to immediately launch an investigation into the alleged practices and declare the fare regime unlawful, excessive and discriminatory.

“We respectfully pray that the commission initiate an investigation into the pricing practices of Overland Airways on the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja route; declare the current fare regime discriminatory, excessive, and anti-consumer, in violation of Section 70(1), Section 72(2)(a), Section 124 and 127 of the Act; invoke the provisions of the act and direct Overland Airways to cease these abusive pricing practices forthwith; and sanction Overland Airways appropriately for its continued disregard of consumer protection standards.

“We remain confident in the commission’s capacity to intervene swiftly and justly in this matter. Our clients, along with many affected passengers, look forward to relief and redress under your regulatory authority,” the petition stated.

The airways neither replied to Peoples Gazette’s calls nor WhatsApp messages requesting comments on the allegations as of the time this report was filed.