The latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the average fare paid by air passengers in the country for specified routes single journey rose by 18.03% from N74,558.11 in February 2023 to N88,000.00 in February 2024.
On a month -on -month basis, it was N88,000.00 in February 2024, showing a decrease of 2.20% compared to the previous month of January 2024.
This was contained in the NBS Transport Fare Watch report for February 2024, 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 motorcycle (Okada) per drop; and water way passenger transport.
According to the report, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop declined to 1.21% from N963.38 in January 2024 to N951.76 in February 2024. On a year-on-year basis, it rose by 46.98% from N647.54 in February 2023.
In another category, NBS said, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop was N7,002.97 in February 2024, indicating a decline of 7.58% on a month-on-month basis compared to N7,577.03 in January 2024. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 75.48% from N3,999.70 in February 2023.
However, the Bureau said, the average transport fare paid on Okada transportation was N467.84 in February 2024 increased by 2.55% compared to the value recorded in January 2024 (N456.22). On a year-on-year basis, the fare increased by 1.42% compared to February 2023 (N461.28).
NBS said, for water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in February 2024 declined to N1,395.81 from N1,402.84 which indicates a decline of 0.50% on a month-on-month.
It said, on a year-on-year basis, it increased by 35.58% from N1,029.47 in February 2023. On state profile analysis, for intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Akwa-Ibom and Anambra with N9,000.00, followed by Abuja with N8,050.00.
The report said, the least fare was recorded in Kwara with N5,000.00, followed by Ebonyi with N5,700.00. Taraba state recorded the highest bus journey within the city (per drop constant route) in February 2024 with N1,400.00 followed by Ondo with N1,200.00.
“On the other hand, Abia recorded the least with N500.00, followed by Adamawa with N585.00. Similarly, Rivers recorded the highest air transport charges (for specified routes single journeys) with N100,000.00, followed by Kano with N96,000.00.
“Conversely, Abia recorded the least fare with N70,000.00, followed by Abuja and Kogi with N80,000.00. Also, Lagos State had the highest motorcycle transport fare in February 2024 with N850.00, followed by Ondo with N750.00’’, it said.
The report said, the least fare was recorded in Anambra with N250.00, while Bayelsa followed with N270.00. Similarly, water transport fare was highest in Bayelsa with N4,500.00, followed by Delta and Rivers with N4,100.00, while the least fare was recorded in Borno with N430.00, followed by Gombe with N570.00.
