By Seun Ibiyemi
Aviation expert and the Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Security Systems & Services Limited, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), has cautioned the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) against interfering in aeronautical commercial services, insisting that such matters fall strictly under the regulatory purview of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Speaking in reaction to the ongoing price-fixing allegation controversy in the aviation sector, Ojikutu said the FCCPC should refrain from intervening in issues relating to aeronautical commercial services without first reviewing tariffs submitted to and approved by the NCAA.
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According to him, aeronautical commercial services are governed by established global standards and industry practices recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which Nigeria aligns with through its aviation regulatory framework.
“This is purely aeronautical commercial service regulated by the NCAA. The FCCPC should not interfere without examining the tariffs that have been submitted to and approved by the NCAA,” he said.
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Ojikutu maintained that regulatory clarity is essential to avoid institutional overlap and confusion within the aviation industry, stressing that the NCAA remains the statutory authority responsible for approving aviation-related tariffs and charges.
He further argued that if the FCCPC is concerned about consumer pricing issues, it should first address fare increases in other sectors, citing the recent hike in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fares by the Lagos State Government.
The former military officer emphasized the need for regulatory agencies to operate within their defined mandates to ensure stability and investor confidence in critical sectors such as aviation
