BY BAMIDELE FAMOOFO
Across the board, commuters paid more to move around in major cities in Nigeria in January 2023 as transport fares recorded an average increase of 0.94 percent in the period.
Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed that the average price of transportation increased from N644.66 in December 2022 to N650.70 in January 2023.
The NBS transport watch covered 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.
“The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 0.94 percent in January 2023 on a month-on-month from N644.66 in December 2022 to N650.70. While on a year-on-year basis, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop rose by 36.59 percent from N476.39 in January 2022,”NBS reported.
In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N3, 998.42 in January 2023 indicating an increase of 0.68 percent on a month-on-month compared to the value of N3, 971.22 in December 2022. On a year-on-year basis basis basis, the fare prices rose by 42.73 percent from N2801.34 in January 2022.
In air travel fare, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey, increased by 0.16 percent on a month-on-month from N74, 586.49 in December 2022 to N74, 702.70 in January 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 94.78 percent from N38, 352.19 in January 2022.
The average transport fare paid on Okada transportation was N466.25 in January 2023 which was 1.04 percent higher than the rate recorded in December 2022 (N461.45) on a month-on-month basis.
While on a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 36.75 percent when compared with January 2021 (N340.94). Whereas the average fare paid for water transport (waterway passenger transportation) in January 2023 increased to N1, 032.84, showing an increase of 16.28 percent on a year-on-year basis from N888.24 in January 2022 and 0.40 percent on a month-on-month from N 1,028.73 in December 2022.
