The Nigerian Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has spoken out against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over its comments about Air Peace. The FCCPC is investigating the airline for allegedly charging high, exploitative airfares. However, Keyamo labeled the FCCPC’s statements as “careless and reckless” during a recent interview on Arise Television.
Keyamo pointed out that the FCCPC did not consult the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which is the proper regulatory body for the aviation sector, before making accusations against Air Peace.
“I think it was a very careless statement by that agency (FCCPC), for making that statement without consulting the core agency involved in regulation of the aviation industry, the NCAA.
“The powers to regulate and for the airlines to inform about their pricing and all are domiciled in the NCAA,” he said.
This criticism follows a broader investigation by the Nigerian government into Air Peace, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), a telecommunications company, and MTN. These investigations focus on potential violations of consumer rights, with some accusing the FCCPC of being influenced by parties aiming to harm Air Peace’s business.