The plight of the average Nigerian is getting more scary by the day as he faces multiple economic challenges. With headline inflation rate of 33.20 percent and food inflation of 40.01 percent, chiefly blamed on the high cost of transportation, which rates have continued to rise, it might take a while for respite to come.
The National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS), in its Transport Fare Watch report for the month of March 2024, shows that the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop was N7,152.97 in March 2024, showing an increase of 2.14 percent on a month-on-month basis compared to N7,002.97 in February 2024. On a year-on -year basis, the fare rose by 79.17 percent from N3,992.36 in March 2023.
For journeys within the city, the average fare paid by commuters per drop increased by 1.85 percent from N951.76 in February 2024 to N969.32 in March 2024. On a year-on-year basis, the fares rose by 49.55 percent from N648.16 in March 2023.
Transport Fare Watch for March 2024 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.
In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey was N88,964.86 in March 2024, indicating an increase of 1.10 percent when compared to previous month of February 2024. On a year-on -year basis, the fare rose by 18.96 percent from N74,782.43 in March 2023.
The average transport fare paid on Okada transportation was N472.16 in March 2024 which increased by 0.92 percent when compared with the value recorded in February 2024 (N467.84). On a year-on-year basis, the fare increased by 2.15 percent when compared with March 2023 (N462.21).
For water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in March 2024 declined to N1,384.32 from N1,395.81 which indicates a decrease of 0.82 percent on monthly basis. On a year-on-year basis, it increased by 34.25 percent from N1,031.12 in March 2023.
On state profile analysis, for intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Anambra with N9,700.00, followed by Akwa-Ibom with N9,000.00. The least fare was recorded in Kwara with N5,500.00, followed by Ebonyi with N5,700.00.
Taraba state recorded the highest bus journey within the city (per drop constant route) in March 2024 with N1,450.00 followed by Ondo with N1,200.00.
On the other hand, Abia recorded the least with N520.00, followed by Adamawa with N580.00. 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 Plateau with N80,500.00. Also, Lagos State had the highest motorcycle transport fare in March 2024 with N850.00, followed by Ondo with N725.00. The least fare was recorded in Anambra with N240.00, while Bayelsa followed with N270.00. Similarly, water transport fare was highest in Bayelsa with N4,500.00, followed by Delta with N4,200.00, while the least fare was recorded in Borno with N440.00, followed by Gombe with N560.00.