The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported on Monday, June 29, that commuters in the country paid higher fares for road, air and water travels in May this year as fuel, diesel and gas prices increased nationwide.
The Bureau disclosed the rising fares of the various modes of transportation in its report titled “Transport Fare Watch for May 2026’, which 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 motor cycle (Okada) per drop; and water way passenger transport.
The report showed that the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased to 2.43%, rising from ₦1,397.27 in April 2026 to ₦1,431.25 in May 2026, and that on a year-on-year basis, the average fare recorded a significant increase of 38.63% compared to the ₦1,032.46 paid in May 2025.
In another category, the data reflected that the average fare paid by commuters for an intercity bus journey per drop stood at ₦9,699.55 in May 2026, representing a 0.96% increase compared to ₦9,607.41 recorded in April 2026. On a year-on-year basis, the average fare rose by 21.89%, from ₦7,957.41 in May 2025
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In air travel, the Bureau reported that the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey was ₦157,552.19 in May 2026, showing an increase of 0.12% while compared to previous month (April 2026), adding that on a year-on -year basis, the fare rose by 20.86% from ₦130,361.85 in May 2025.
Similarly, the report revealed that the average transport fare paid on Okada transportation stood at ₦1,072.51 in May 2026, representing a 3.56% increase compared to the ₦1,035.69 recorded in April 2026, while on a year-on-year basis, the average fare rose by 52.45%, from ₦703.54 in May 2025 to ₦1,072.51 in May 2026.
In addition, the data reflected that for water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in May 2026 was ₦2,276.48 which indicates an increase of 2.41% on monthly basis, just as on a year-on-year basis, it increased by 30.88% from ₦1,739.32 in May 2025.
A further analysis of the report’s findings on state-level showed significant variations in transport fares across the country.
The Bureau further clarified: “For intercity bus travel (state route charged per-person fare), Ondo State recorded the highest average fare at ₦11,080.00, closely followed by Abia State at ₦11,066.13. In contrast, the lowest fares were recorded in Kwara State (₦7,969.29) and Edo State (₦8,000.61).
“For bus journeys within city (per drop, constant route), Zamfara State recorded the highest average fare at ₦1,878.80, followed by Taraba State at ₦1,771.96. Conversely, the lowest fares were observed in Abia State (₦890.05) and Adamawa State (₦918.47).
“Analysis of air transport charges (specified routes, single journey) showed that Kano State recorded the highest average fare at ₦184,139.29, followed by Lagos State at ₦176,971.65. The lowest fares were recorded in Gombe State (₦135,800.61) and Nasarawa State (₦138,999.14).
“Similarly, motorcycle transport fares were highest in Kaduna State at ₦1,720.76, followed by Lagos State at ₦1,660.00. The lowest average fares were recorded in Adamawa State (₦761.32) and Akwa Ibom State (₦778.06)
“For water transport services, Rivers State recorded the highest average fare at ₦6,893.55, followed by Bayelsa State at ₦5,600.02. In contrast, the lowest fares were observed in Borno State (₦1,010.50) and the Federal Capital Territory (₦1,128.68)”, it added.
According to the Bureau, when analyzed on zonal basis in the month under review, transport fares of bus journeys within the city recorded the highest in the South-West with ₦1,564.31, followed by North-Central with ₦1,460.14, while the South-East recorded the least with ₦1,334.36.
It disclosed that in terms of bus journey inter-city, the South-West had the highest fare with ₦10,138.80 followed by the North-West with ₦10,083.57 while South-South recorded the least with ₦9,266.49.
On air transportation in May this year, the statistics agency reported that South-South recorded the highest fare with ₦163,508.93 followed by the North-West with ₦160,760.35 while the North-East had the least with ₦152,170.30.
Also, it added that commuters on a motorcycle (Okada) paid the highest fare in the South-West with ₦1,184.15 followed by South-East with ₦1,111.58, while the North-Central recorded the least with ₦998.38.
The NBS reported that the South -South zone had the highest fare on water transport with ₦5,112.51, followed by the South-West with ₦2,279.69, while the North-East had the least with ₦1,411.60.
