Passengers paid an average of N7,129.46 each for intercity bus travel inside Nigeria, representing a considerable increase of 78.14% from N4,002.16 in May 2023.
This figure comes from the Transport Fare Watch for May 2024, recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Additionally, the report showed that, month over month, the average fare in May 2024 increased by 0.10% from the N7,122.57 reported in April 2024.
“The average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop was N7,129.46 in May 2024, indicating an increase of 0.10% on a month-on-month basis compared to N7,122.57 in April 2024. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 78.14% from N4,002.16 in May 2023,” the report read in part.
Further study shows that the May 2024 average fare for intercity bus travel by geopolitical zone, the South-South had the highest fare at N7,662.50, up 0.39% from the previous month’s N7,632.50 and 95.10% more than May 2023’s N3,927.28.
The South-East had the second highest at N7,376.00 per trip, a tiny 0.08% rise over April and 85.55% more than May 2023’s N3,975.17.
The North-Central had the lowest fare, at N6,815.71, up 0.08% from April and 74.15% year on year.
Meanwhile, the North-East posted N7,050.83, down 0.11% from April’s N7,058.33 and up 69.72% year on year from May 2023’s N4,154.38.
The South-West recorded average of N6,989.17, a 0.16% m-o-m increase and a 64.19% year-on-year rise.
The North-West had an average of N6,997.86 in May 2024, slightly down from N7,000 in April, but up 82.94% year-on-year.
throughout May 2024, an analysis of average intercity bus prices across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja revealed considerable differences.
Anambra State has the highest fare, costing N9,650 each trip. Akwa Ibom and Gombe followed with charges of N8,300 each.
Abia State was next at N8,250, followed by Delta at N8,200 and Bayelsa at N8,100.
Abuja and Cross River had fares of N8,050, while Adamawa was at N7,700 and Oyo at N7,600.
