By Desire Emmanuel
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Sunday, December 21, warned inter-city road transport operators against arbitrary and unexplained fare increases during Yuletide travel period.
The warning followed a deluge of complaints from travellers across several parts of the country who said they were charged between N50,000 and N80,000 for journeys, especially to the South-East and South-South parts of the country.
One of the travellers was said to have complained to the Federal Government agency that he was made to pay N80,000 for a trip from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while some were said to have paid N55,000 from Lagos to Owerri, Imo State.
However, following the complaints received, the FCCPC said in a statement on Sunday that the arbitrary increase in transport fares was unnecessary when there are reports of reductions in the pump price of petrol across parts of the country.
It wrote: “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has cautioned inter-city road transport operators against arbitrary and unexplained fare increases during the ongoing Yuletide travel period, following a surge in consumer complaints across several parts of the country.
“The commission recognises that seasonal demand, operational pressures and other legitimate cost factors may affect transport pricing. However, consumers are entitled to clear, accurate, and timely information on fares before travel. Any fare adjustment must therefore be transparently communicated and applied fairly.
“The FCCPC also notes that these complaints are arising at a time when there are reports of reductions in the pump price of premium motor spirit across parts of the country. While fuel cost is only one of several inputs that may influence transport fares, increases that are not properly explained or disclosed raise valid consumer protection concerns.
“However, conduct that exploits consumers or takes unfair advantage of heightened seasonal demand may attract regulatory attention under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
“Practices such as inadequate fare disclosure, coercive conduct, or coordinated pricing arrangements among operators to the detriment of travellers will be subject to strict regulatory scrutiny. Where cases of violation are established, culprits will face stiff penalties.”
