The National Bureau of Statistics reported that domestic air‑transport fares increased by 66.36 % over the past year. In its latest “Transport Fare Watch (February 2023)” report, the Bureau noted that the average fare paid by air passengers for specified single‑journey routes fell slightly on a month‑on‑month basis, from N74,702.70 in January 2023 to N74,571.62 in February 2023 (a 0.18 % decline). However, on a year‑on‑year basis the fare rose sharply by 66.36 % from N44,825.04 in February 2022.
For city bus journeys, the average fare per drop decreased by 0.47 % in February 2023, falling to N647.66 from N650.70 in January. Despite this monthly dip, the fare was 26.07 % higher than the N513.72 recorded in February 2022. Intercity bus fares per drop also slipped slightly, reaching N3,990.70 in February 2023—a 0.19 % month‑on‑month decline from N3,998.42 in January—but were 4.02 % higher than the N3,836.45 paid in February 2022.
Okada (motorcycle) transport fares averaged N461.28 in February 2023, 1.07 % lower than the N466.25 recorded in January. Year‑on‑year, the fare was up 21.67 % from N379.12 in February 2022. Water‑transport (waterway passenger) fares stood at N1,029.47 in February 2023, a 12.74 % increase from N913.13 in February 2022, while showing a modest 0.33 % monthly decline from N1,032.84 in January.
State‑level analysis showed that Taraba had the highest city‑bus fare per drop (N870), followed by Bauchi (N800), whereas Borno recorded the lowest (N500) and Anambra the next lowest (N515). For intercity bus travel, Abuja posted the highest fare (N6,200) and Adamawa the second highest (N5,725); the lowest fares were in Kwara (N2,000) and Zamfara (N2,567). In air transport, Kebbi recorded the highest single‑journey fare (N80,500) and Bayelsa the second highest (N80,000), while Abia had the lowest (N69,850) and Niger the next lowest (N70,000). Kwara led motorcycle transport fares at N760, with Lagos close behind at N750; the lowest fares were in Edo (N158) and Bayelsa (N190). Water‑transport fares were highest in Delta (N3,500) and Rivers (N3,200), and lowest in Borno (N360) and Kebbi (N425).
When grouped by zone, February 2023 city‑bus fares were highest in the North‑East (N698.33), followed by the South‑South (N660.58), and lowest in the South‑East (N616.88). Intercity bus fares were highest in the South‑West (N4,255.83), then the North‑East (N4,130.83), and lowest in the North‑West (N3,816.71). Air‑transport fares peaked in the North‑East (N76,350), then the South‑East (N75,270), with the North‑Central recording the lowest average (N72,357.14). Okada fares were highest in the North‑Central (N528.17), followed by the South‑West (N518.35), and lowest in the North‑West (N332.86). Finally, water‑transport fares were highest in the South‑South (N2,425.83), then the South‑West (N950), and lowest in the North‑East (N656.67).
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