By Ayo Kehinde
Transportation costs remained elevated across Nigeria in April 2026, with the average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus travel rising to ₦9,607.41, reflecting the continued impact of inflationary pressures, high fuel costs, and rising operating expenses.
This was disclosed in the latest Transport Fare Watch report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which showed that fares increased across major modes of transportation, including intercity and intra-city buses, motorcycles, water transport, and air travel.
According to the report, the average intercity bus fare increased by 21.6 percent year-on-year, underscoring the mounting cost burden facing households and businesses amid persistent economic pressures.
State-by-state data revealed significant disparities in transport costs. Abia recorded the highest average intercity bus fare at ₦10,998.89, while Kwara posted the lowest at ₦7,900.10.
For intra-city transport, Zamfara recorded the highest fare at ₦1,803.10 per trip, followed by Lagos at ₦1,704.03, while Abia had the lowest average fare at ₦850.98.
Air travel also remained expensive during the period. Kano recorded the highest average airfare at ₦183,835.21, while Gombe posted the lowest at ₦135,650.75.
Motorcycle transport was most expensive in Kaduna at ₦1,690.91 per trip, while Rivers State recorded the highest average water transport fare at ₦6,777.45.
The NBS further noted that the South-West recorded the highest average fares for both intercity and intra-city transportation, highlighting the increasing cost pressures within some of Nigeria’s busiest commercial centres.
The latest figures reinforce concerns over the rising cost of living, with transportation remaining a major driver of consumer prices.
Headline inflation rose to 15.69 percent in April, while elevated logistics, fuel, and maintenance costs continue to feed into the prices of food, manufactured goods, and essential services across the economy.
