Nigerians face more hardship as transport fares jump by 120.6%

As Nigerians await the July consumer price index (CPI) report, which is due today, the report of the June food and transport prices confirms that citizens have been pushed to the edge.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average fare paid by commuters for intra-city travel per drop increased by 120.63 per cent from N582.61 in June 2022 to N1,285.41 in June 2023 and 97.88 per cent month-on-month, rising from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023.

In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for intercity per drop rose to N5,686.49 in June 2023, indicating an increase of 42.09 per cent on a month-on-month basis compared to N4,002.16 recorded in May 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 55.25 per cent, from N3,662.87 in June 2022.
The NBS also reports that Bauchi state recorded the highest bus journey fare within the city (per drop constant route) in June 2023 with N1,700, followed by Jigawa with N1,570.

“On the other hand, Imo State recorded the least with N710, followed by Adamawa with N840,” NBS said.

It added: “For intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Abuja with N8,500, followed by Anambra with N8,000.”
For air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for a specified single journey increased by 4.93 per cent from N74,948.78 in May 2023 to N78,640.54 in June 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 40.22 per cent, from N56,082.64 in June 2022.
It stated that the average transport fare paid on okada transportation was N618.52 in June 2023, which was 33.14 per cent higher than the rate recorded in May 2023 (N464.55).
On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 48.34 per cent when compared with June 2022 (N416.97).

In the case of water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in June 2023 increased to N1,366.22, from N1,045.15 in May 2023. On a year-on-year basis, it increased by 44.84 percent from N943.26 in June 2022

For food prices, the NBS report said that the average price of 1kg of yam tuber rose by 32.85 percent on a year-on-year basis from N384.48 in June 2022 to N510.77 in June 2023.