June 29 (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s transport costs continued their upward trend in May 2026, with commuters paying more across all major modes of transportation, according to the latest Transport Fare Watch released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report showed that average fares increased on both a monthly and annual basis for intra-city and intercity bus travel, air transport, motorcycle (Okada) rides, and waterway transportation, underscoring the persistent pressure of rising mobility costs on households and businesses.
The average fare for bus journeys within cities rose by 2.43 percent month-on-month to ₦1,431.25 in May from ₦1,397.27 in April.
On a year-on-year basis, the fare climbed 38.63 percent from ₦1,032.46 recorded in May 2025.
Intercity bus fares also edged higher, increasing 0.96 percent to ₦9,699.55 from ₦9,607.41 in April, representing a 21.89 percent annual increase. Ondo State recorded the highest average intercity fare at ₦11,080, while Kwara posted the lowest at ₦7,969.29.
Air travel remained expensive, with the average one-way fare on selected routes rising marginally by 0.12 percent month-on-month to ₦157,552.19, up 20.86 percent from a year earlier.
Kano recorded the highest average airfare at ₦184,139.29, followed by Lagos at ₦176,971.65, while Gombe and Nasarawa offered the lowest fares.
Motorcycle transport recorded one of the steepest increases, with the average fare climbing 3.56 percent month-on-month and 52.45 percent year-on-year to ₦1,072.51.
Kaduna posted the highest Okada fare at ₦1,720.76, while Adamawa recorded the lowest at ₦761.32.
Water transport fares also rose, increasing 2.41 percent to ₦2,276.48 in May from ₦2,222.99 in April, representing a 30.88 percent annual increase.
Rivers State recorded the highest average waterway fare at ₦6,893.55, followed by Bayelsa at ₦5,600.02, while Borno had the lowest at ₦1,010.50.
At the zonal level, the South-West recorded the highest fares for intra-city buses (₦1,564.31), intercity buses (₦10,138.80), and motorcycle transport (₦1,184.15).
The South-South led air travel costs with an average fare of ₦163,508.93 and also recorded the highest water transport fare at ₦5,112.51, highlighting persistent regional cost disparities across the country’s transport network.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
