.As Gov Zulum orders free transport trips for southerners in Borno
AHMED MARI, Mauduguri
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has clarified that increases in transport fares during the yuletide period are not unlawful in themselves, warning, however, that exploitative or unfair practices by road transport operators will attract regulatory sanctions.
The clarification was made in a statement issued on Sunday by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
FCCPC noted that the warning comes amid complaints over arbitrary fare hikes by inter-city road transport operators across the country.
It acknowledged 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,” the statement noted.
Commenting on the development, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mr Tunji Bello, said FCCPC was closely monitoring market conduct throughout the festive season and had intensified engagement with transport unions, park managers and operators nationwide.
According to him, the engagements are preventive and aimed at promoting responsible pricing, voluntary compliance and orderly market behaviour.
“Price increases are not, in themselves, unlawful,” the statement noted Bello as saying.
“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.”
He added that practices such as inadequate fare disclosure, coercive conduct or coordinated pricing arrangements among operators to the detriment of consumers would be subjected to strict regulatory scrutiny.
Bello warned that “Where cases of violation are established, he warned, culprits face stiff penalties.”
The Commission advised consumers to confirm fares before travel, retain proof of payment and report suspected unfair practices through its complaint portal or designated hotlines.
The Borno state Government has flagged off the 2025 Free Annual Transportation Programme to Southern part of the country, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to compassion, inclusivity, and people-centred governance.
The programme, which commenced on Sunday, 21 December 2025, has continued to provide critical mobility support to thousands of Nigerians since its inception in 2020, facilitating safe interstate travel during the festive season, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or social background.
Flagging off the transport scheme at the Kano Motor Park, Maiduguri, Governor Babagana Zulum said the initiative was designed to ease the hardship faced by low-income earners and vulnerable groups, especially during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Represented by the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Chief Ugochukwu Egwudike, Governor Zulum , said that beyond transportation, the programme aims to promote social cohesion and national unity by reconnecting families separated by economic and security challenges.
Zulum recalled that over the years, the scheme has reunited families who had been unable to travel home for three to five years, enabling them to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.
He said that during the previous exercise, beneficiaries also received ₦30,000 each, paid directly into their bank accounts to cushion financial pressures and ensure transparency in disbursements who had been unable to travel home for three to five years, enabling them to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.
A total of 320 passengers will be transported on Day One, 280 on Day Two, and 150 on Day Three, with all passengers conveyed safely to their destinations.
The fourth day of the programme will be devoted to the distribution of palliatives and social support to 300 widows, orphans, and other vulnerable persons.
Also, the Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Apostle Joshua Akeredolu, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful, particularly for Christian faithfuls travelling to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones in their villages of origin.
He praised Governor Zulum’s inclusive leadership and offered prayers for his continued success and greater service to humanity.
Other stakeholders described the programme as a practical demonstration of Governor Zulum’s humane and responsive leadership, noting its positive impact on social welfare, interfaith harmony, and national integration.
The Free Annual Transportation Programme remains one of the flagship social intervention initiatives of the Borno State Government, providing annual relief and mobility support to thousands of Nigerians across the country.
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