Nigeria, Dec. 12 -- The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the Federal Government has no legal authority to reduce domestic airfares despite widespread complaints from travellers.

He explained that Nigeria's aviation industry operates under a deregulated framework that places fare-setting entirely in the hands of private airlines.

Speaking to State House correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Mr Keyamo said the government has no authority to set fares for private airlines.

"Government has absolutely no powers to fix prices for private enterprises. That is what deregulation means," he explained.

He confirmed that he was invited by the Senate to address la...