Nigeria: NBS Records Yearly Increase in Transportation Cost

Hauwa Abubakar

Last updated Mar 3, 2023

The average domestic airfare paid by passengers has increased by 94.78 percent in the past 12 months, a National Bureau of Statistics data has shown.

In a report titled, “Transport Fare Watch (January 2023),” the NBS said airfares recorded a 0.16 percent increase on a month-on-month basis.

The Transport Fare Watch for January 2023 covers: Bus journey within the city per drop constant route; bus journey intercity (state route) charge per person; air fare charge for specified routes single journey; journey by motorcycle (Okada) per drop; and water way passenger transport.

Air Transportation

According to the report, local airfares rose from an average of N74,586.49 in December 2022 to N74,702.70 in January 2023.

“In air travels fare, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey, increased by 0.16% on a month-on-month from N74,586.49 in December 2022 to N74,702.70 in January 2023. On a year-on-year, the fare rose by 94.78% from N38,352.19 in January 2022.”

Road Transportation

According to the NBS, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 0.94% in January 2023 on a month-on-month from N644.66 in December 2022 to N650.70. While on a year-on-year, however, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop rose by 36.59% from N476.39 in January 2022.

“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N3,998.42 in January 2023 indicating an increase of 0.68% on a month-on-month compared to the value of N3,971.22 in December 2022. On a year-on-year, the fare prices rose by 42.73% from N2801.34 in January 2022.”

The average transport fare paid on motorcycle transportation, popularly called Okada was N466.25 in January 2023 which was 1.04% higher than the rate recorded in December 2022 (N461.45) on a month-on-month basis, the report added. “While on a year-on-year, the fare rose by 36.75% when compared with January 2021 (N340.94).”

Water Transportation

The NBS added that the average fare paid for water transport (waterway passenger transportation) in January 2023 increased to N1,032.84, “showing an increase of 16.28% on a year-on-year basis from N888.24 in January 2022 and 0.40% on a month-on-month from N 1,028.73 in December 2022.