In the past year, air travel has become increasingly expensive for Nigerians, with average ticket prices surging by a 34.06%. The latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stayed that the cost of airfare rose from N55,906.86 in May 2022 to N74,948.78 in May 2023. The increase in air ticket prices has become a major  challenge for domestic travelers.

The increase is not only limited to air travel, but commuter bus fares have also seen an uptick of 11.66% during the same period.

The NBS report covers various modes of transportation, including bus journeys within the city, intercity bus journeys, airfare for specified routes, motorcycle (Okada) fares, and waterway passenger transport.

With regards bus journeys within the city, the average fare paid by commuters experienced a slight increase of 0.23% in May 2023 per drop. The fare reached N649.59 compared to N648.12 in April 2023. On a year-on-year basis, there was a notable 11.66% rise from N581.79 in May 2022.

For intercity bus journeys per drop, the average fare paid in May 2023 was N4,002.16, indicating a marginal increase of 0.19% compared to N3,994.51 in April 2023. On a year-on-year basis, this showed a 9.09% increase from N3,668.64 in May 2022.

Turning to airfares, the average fare paid by passengers for specified routes and single journeys saw a minuscule increase of 0.002% from N74,947.30 in April 2023 to N74,948.78 in May 2023. However, on a year-on-year basis, there was a significant surge of 34.06% from N55,906.86 in May 2022.

Moving on to motorcycle (Okada) transportation, the average fare paid in May 2023 amounted to N464.55, showing a slight 0.49% increase from the rate recorded in April 2023, which was N462.29. Comparing this to May 2022 (N417.39), there was an 11.30% increase in Okada fares.

In terms of water transport, the average fare paid for waterway passenger transportation in May 2023 stood at N1,045.15, signifying a 1.39% increase from N1,030.83 in April 2023. This equates to a 10.99% rise from N941.63 in May 2022.

The rising cost of transportation, especially the steep increase in airfares, presents significant financial challenges for Nigerian travelers and commuters. Access to affordable travel options is becoming increasingly difficult, impacting individuals’ ability to travel conveniently and affordably.

It remains to be seen how these rising transportation expenses will impact the overall economy and the mobility of Nigerians. Efforts to address this issue and find sustainable solutions are crucial to ensure that travel remains accessible and affordable for all.