By Tina Francis
A petition has been filed by two consumer Rights groups to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC against Overland Airways alleging exploitative and discriminatory pricing on its Lagos to Ilorin to Abuja flight route.
The petition titled PETITION AGAINST OVERLAND AIRWAYS – HALF THE DISTANCE! DOUBLE THE PRICE! ON THE SAME FLIGHT was submitted by the law firm of A.U. Mustapha & Co. on behalf of The Third Estate and Like Minds Foundation.
The groups alleged that Overland Airways, which operates as the only commercial airline servicing the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin,charges Ilorin-bound passengers more for shorter segments of the same Lagos to Ilorin to Abuja route.
They argue that while passengers flying the full route from Lagos to Abuja pay a single fare, those disembarking midway in Ilorin or boarding from Ilorin to Abuja are charged a combined amount that is higher, despite covering less distance and flying on the same aircraft.
The petitioners state that they were deeply concerned with the welfare and mobility of their members, many of whom are indigenes of the Ilorin Emirate and frequent travellers along the Lagos–Ilorin–Abuja air corridor which Overland Airways currently enjoys a monopoly as the sole commercial airline operating in and out of Ilorin
The petitioners say this npricing pattern violates Section 127 of the FCCPC Act, which prohibits unfair, unreasonable, or unjust contract terms and pricing structures that exploit consumers.
The petition cited multiple fare examples across July and August 2025 showing Ilorin passengers being charged more than passengers flying the full route.
It alleges that a passenger paid over N260,000 for a Lagos to Ilorin ticket and another paid N300,000 for Ilorin to Abuja — totaling N560,000 for the same journey that another passenger flew entirely for just N160,000.
The groups contend that this pricing model reflects an abuse of market dominance due to the lack of alternative airlines serving Ilorin and also stressed that the practice has placed a financial burden on Ilorin-bound passengers.
The petitioners call on the FCCPC to investigate the fare structure, sanction Overland Airways where appropriate, and take steps to ensure pricing transparency and consumer protection in the aviation sector.
A lawyer at the Lagos office of AU Mustapha & Co in Lagos confirmed the petition but said it originated from the Abuja office
As of the time of filing this report, Overland Airways had not issued a public response to the allegations raised in the petition.
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