A formal petition has been lodged with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accusing Overland Airways of exploitative and discriminatory fare practices on the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja flight corridor.
The petition, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria A.U. Mustapha on behalf of The Third Estate and Like Minds Foundation, alleges that the airline has abused its monopoly on the Ilorin route by charging “unjustifiable and excessive fares” in violation of consumer protection laws.
According to the complaint, Overland Airways remains the only commercial operator servicing the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin, a position it is alleged to have leveraged to introduce a pricing model deemed illogical and unfair.
Among the examples cited, a direct flight from Lagos to Ilorin—lasting roughly 50 minutes—was reportedly priced at ₦260,000, while a longer journey from Lagos to Abuja (with a stopover in Ilorin) cost only ₦160,000.
Passengers flying the Ilorin–Abuja segment alone were charged ₦300,000, bringing the total cost for the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja route to a staggering ₦560,000—over three times the fare for the full Lagos–Abuja trip.
The petition claims that such pricing is not only arbitrary but appears to be intentionally designed to exploit passengers bound for or departing from Ilorin.
In a further allegation, the complainants said passengers attempting to circumvent the pricing model by purchasing cheaper Lagos–Abuja tickets and exiting the flight in Ilorin were reportedly prevented from doing so by Overland staff—actions described as reinforcing concerns of deliberate fare manipulation.
Referencing key provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, the petitioners are demanding a swift investigation by the FCCPC.
They are urging the Commission to declare the airline’s pricing regime excessive and anti-consumer, compel an end to the practice, and impose appropriate sanctions on the carrier.
The petition was also forwarded to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Ona Najumo.
The petitioners commended the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for its efforts in promoting consumer rights and fair competition, expressing confidence in the agency’s leadership. Acting on behalf of The Third Estate and Like Minds Foundation, they raised urgent concerns over Overland Airways’ alleged exploitative pricing practices on the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja route.
According to the petition, Overland Airways, which holds a monopoly as the only commercial operator at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin, is accused of imposing unfair and discriminatory fares. The complainants, representing communities with strong ties to Ilorin, noted widespread reports of extreme fare disparities on flights involving Ilorin, despite the airport merely serving as a stopover.
Mustapha said, “Ilorin-bound passengers are consistently charged disproportionately higher fares, despite travelling a shorter distance. To illustrate: Passenger A: LOS–ABV (2hr 15mins) = ₦160,000”.
He said, “Passenger B: LOS–ILR (50mins) = ₦260,000 (Annexure 2). Passenger C: ILR–ABV (55mins) = ₦300,000.
“Effectively, the same seat yields ₦560,000 from Passengers B and C, compared to ₦160,000 paid by Passenger A, who travels the full distance. This irrational and exploitative fare structure has 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)
“The least fare to Ilorin exceeds the highest premium fare to Lagos, confirming that these prices are arbitrary and not distance-based.
“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.”
Mustapha, on behalf of the petitioners, urged the FCCPC to investigate Overland Airways’ pricing practices on the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja route. He requested that the Commission declare the fare regime discriminatory, excessive, and in violation of relevant sections of the law, and to take immediate action directing the airline to end its alleged exploitative pricing.
“Sanction Overland Airways appropriately for its continued disregard of consumer protection standards,” he said.
“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. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned should you require further clarification or supporting documents.”