Domestic air travel in Nigeria has seen a significant price increase, with airfares rising by 25% in July 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The data, published in the NBS Transport Fare See Report for July 2024, highlights the growing costs of air travel amid broader economic challenges in the country.
The report revealed that the average fare paid by air passengers for a single journey on specified routes was ₦98,561.74 in July 2024, marking a 9.65% increase from ₦89,876.42 in June 2024. On a year-on-year basis, this represents a 25.12% rise from ₦78,775.74 in July 2023.
This surge in airfare follows the federal government’s recent decision to further increase tax charges, despite ongoing complaints from the Airline Operators of Nigeria regarding multiple taxation. The rising costs are placing additional strain on domestic travelers, already grappling with an inflationary environment.
Mixed Trends in Other Transport Costs
While airfares soared, the NBS report also highlighted a decline in the prices paid for bus, motorcycle, and waterway journeys in July 2024.
- Bus Journeys within the City: The average fare paid by commuters decreased by 2.18% from ₦963.58 in June 2024 to ₦942.61 in July 2024. On a year-on-year basis, this fare saw a significant decline of 29.46% from ₦1,336.29 in July 2023.
- Intercity Bus Journeys: The average fare for intercity travel per drop was ₦7,117.17 in July 2024, reflecting a slight increase of 0.35% compared to ₦7,092.03 in June 2024.
- Motorcycle (Okada) Transport: The average fare for Okada transport rose by 1.22% from ₦477.49 in June 2024 to ₦483.33 in July 2024. However, on a year-on-year basis, the fare decreased by 25.20% from ₦646.12 in July 2023.
- Water Transport: The average fare for waterway passenger transportation saw a marginal decline of 0.44% on a month-on-month basis, from ₦1,406.70 in June 2024 to ₦1,403.06 in July 2024. Compared to July 2023, this fare decreased by 0.26%.
State-by-State Analysis
The NBS report also provided a state-by-state breakdown of transport fares:
- Intercity Bus Travel: Anambra recorded the highest fare for intercity bus travel at ₦9,566.89, followed by Gombe at ₦8,299.44. The lowest fares were observed in Kwara at ₦5,518.38, followed by Ebonyi at ₦5,596.11.
- Intra-City Bus Journeys: Taraba state recorded the highest fare for intra-city bus journeys at ₦1,457.28, followed by Ondo at ₦1,200.94. The lowest fares were recorded in Adamawa at ₦500.00 and Abia at ₦505.35.
The report underscores the varying impact of inflation and government policies on different modes of transportation across the country. While air travel becomes increasingly costly, ground and water transport fares show more mixed trends, offering some relief to local commuters.