The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has criticized Air Peace for allegedly attempting to disrupt its ongoing investigation into claims of exploitative ticket pricing and potential consumer rights violations.
In a statement shared on its official X account, the FCCPC addressed what it described as misinformation about a December 3 meeting between its officials and Air Peace representatives at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters.
“Last Thursday, the Commission had to refute a report syndicated in a section of the media which grossly misrepresented the proceedings at a meeting between its officials and the Air Peace team earlier on December 3,” the statement read.
The FCCPC explained that the meeting was convened in response to numerous passenger complaints and was conducted privately in accordance with Section 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
The FCCPC emphasized, “Although the Commission chose to conduct the December 3 session in camera as a gesture of good faith to preserve confidentiality, no sooner had the session ended than leaks appeared in the media attributing unfounded but prejudicial statements to the Commission’s officials, categorically declaring that ‘Air Peace was not under investigation.’ These leaks also quoted the Air Peace Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, engaging in ostentation of self-adulation.”
The Commission further pointed out that certain remarks by Onyema during the meeting, such as his alleged claim that he could shut down the airline to demonstrate he was doing the nation a favor by operating, were conspicuously omitted in the media reports.
Read also: Opposition party wins Ghana presidential election as ruling party candidate concedes defeat
In a subsequent statement on December 5, the FCCPC reiterated that its investigation was still underway and urged the public to disregard unverified media accounts.
The agency also addressed remarks made by Air Peace during a December 6 press conference in Lagos, labeling them as “outlandish claims and innuendos obviously intended to whip up sentiments.” The FCCPC criticized the airline for ignoring the core issues under scrutiny.
“By asserting that only the aviation regulatory agency could inquire into its affairs, Air Peace betrays a terribly poor understanding of both the legal and moral pillars of its operating environment,” the FCCPC stated. “Passengers are consumers of its services. Their rights are inalienable and guaranteed under the FCCPA. It is the basis of FCCPC’s intervention.”
The Commission underscored its legal authority under Section 17(e) of the FCCPA 2018 to investigate any issue falling within its jurisdiction and Section 127(1)(a), which prohibits unfair, unreasonable, or unjust pricing practices.
The ongoing inquiry centers on accusations of unwarranted fare increases for advance bookings on certain domestic routes and a lack of transparency in pricing, which the FCCPC believes may breach consumer rights and fair competition standards.
“Under Section 148(3)(c) of the FCCPA 2018, the FCCPC, upon receipt of a consumer complaint, can direct an inspector to institute an inquiry and investigate the matter as quickly as practicable to determine whether the undertaking has acted inconsistently with the provisions of the Act,” the statement concluded.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers and promoting fair competition in all sectors, including aviation.
The post FCCPC challenges Air Peace over alleged obstruction in ticket pricing investigation appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.