The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the fare of air travel has increased by over 34 per cent compared to last year.
This is contained in the latest report, ‘Transport Fare Watch’ released by NBS on Tuesday.
“Transport Fare Watch for May 2023 covers the following categories: 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”, NBS said.
In the report, “In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey increased by 0.002% on a month-on-month basis from N74,947.30 in April 2023 to N74,948.78 in May 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 34.06% from N55,906.86 in May 2022.
“The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 0.23% in May 2023 when N649.59 was recorded relative to N648.12 in April 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the average fare paid rose by 11.66% from N581.79 in May 2022.
“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop in May 2023 was N4,002.16, indicating an increase of 0.19% on a month-on-month basis compared to the N3,994.51 recorded in April 2023. On a year-on-year basis, this rose by 9.09% from N3,668.64 in May 2022”.
In measuring Okada transportation in May 2023, the average fare paid by commuters was N464.55, a 0.49% increase from the rate recorded in April 2023 (N462.29). The year-on-year basis analysis showed that the fare rose by 11.30% when compared with the value in May 2022 which was N417.39.
In water transportation, the average fare paid by waterway passengers in May 2023 stood at N1,045.15, showing an increase of 1.39% from N1,030.83 in April 2023—the year-on-year basis analysis showed it increased by 10.99% from N941.63 in May 2022.
States’ transport fare analysis
On state profile analysis, Taraba state recorded the highest bus journey fare within the city with its per drop on a constant route in May 2023 at N870.00. Bauchi followed with N810.04, while Borno recorded the least with N510.14.
For intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Abuja with N6,205.10, followed by Adamawa with N5,725.14, while the least was recorded in Kwara with N2,000.00.
“Kebbi state recorded the highest air transport fare (for specified routes single journeys) in May 2023 with N80,000.00, followed by Bayelsa with N79,050.00, while Abia recorded the least with N69,800.00.
“Also, Kwara state had the highest motorcycle transport fare in May 2023 with N760.00, followed by Lagos with N750.04, while the least fare was recorded in Edo with N158.05. Similarly, water transport fare recorded highest in Delta with N3,510.00, followed by Rivers with N3,500.00, while the least was recorded in Borno with N360.00.”
Zonal analysis
NBS analysis by zones across the country showed that transport fares of bus journeys within the city in May 2023 recorded the highest in the North-East with N703.41, followed by the South-South with N660.75, while the South-East recorded the least with N617.14.
“In terms of bus journey intercity, the South-West had the highest fare with N4,256.78, followed by the North-East with N4,154.38, while the North-West recorded the least with N3,825.19.
“The North-East recorded the highest air transport fare in May 2023 with N77,058.33, followed by the South-East with N75,350.00, while the North-Central had the least with N72,950.71.
“Commuters on a motorcycle (Okada) paid the highest fare in the North Central with N528.95, followed by the South-West with N519.83, while the North-West recorded the least with N337.26. For water transport, the South-South had the highest fare paid with N2,502.50, followed by the South-West with N958.34, while the North-East had the least fare with N656.67.”
