Air fares highest in Kano as tickets’ prices rise by 20.8%

The average fare paid by air passengers for specified single route journeys increased to N157,552.19 in May 2026, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report said this was an increase of 20.86% from the N130,361.85 average paid in May 2025 and 0.12% compared to the previous month of April […]

The average fare paid by air passengers for specified single route journeys increased to N157,552.19 in May 2026, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report said this was an increase of 20.86% from the N130,361.85 average paid in May 2025 and 0.12% compared to the previous month of April 2026.

Analysis of air transport charges (specified routes, single journey) showed that Kano State recorded the highest average fare at N184,139.29, followed by Lagos State at N176,971.65.

“The lowest fares were recorded in Gombe State (N135,800.61) and Nasarawa State (N138,999.14).”

The report added that the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased to 2.43%, rising from N1,397.27 in April 2026 to N1,431.25 in May 2026.

But on a year-on-year basis, the average fare recorded a significant increase of 38.63% compared to the N1,032.46 paid in May 2025.

“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for an intercity bus journey per drop stood at N9,699.55 in May 2026, representing a 0.96% increase compared to N9,607.41 recorded in April 2026. On a year-on-year basis, the average fare rose by 21.89%, from N7,957.41 in May 2025,” the report said.

For transportation through Okada, it said the average fare was N1,072.51 in May 2026, representing a 3.56% increase compared to the N1,035.69 recorded in April 2026.

“On a year-on-year basis, the average fare rose by 52.45%, from N703.54 in May 2025 to N1,072.51 in May 2026. For water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in May 2026 was N2,276.48 which indicates an increase of 2.41% on monthly basis. On a year-on-year basis, it increased by 30.88% from N1,739.32 in May 2025,” he said.

For state-level analysis, it noted that intercity bus travel (state route charged per-person fare), Ondo State recorded the highest average fare at N11,080, closely followed by Abia State at N11,066.13.

In contrast, the lowest fares were recorded in Kwara State (N7,969.29) and Edo State (N8,000.61).

For bus journeys within the city (per drop, constant route), Zamfara State recorded the highest average fare at N1,878.80, followed by Taraba State at N1,771.96. Conversely, the lowest fares were observed in Abia State (N890.05) and Adamawa State (N918.47).

“Similarly, motorcycle transport fares were highest in Kaduna State at N1,720.76, followed by Lagos State at N1,660.00. The lowest average fares were recorded in Adamawa State (N761.32) and Akwa Ibom State (N778.06).”

“For water transport services, Rivers State recorded the highest average fare at N6,893.55, followed by Bayelsa State at N5,600.02. In contrast, the lowest fares were observed in Borno State (N1,010.50) and the Federal Capital Territory (N1,128.68).”

For Analysis by zone in May 2026, transport fares of bus journeys within the city recorded the highest in the SouthWest with N1,564.31, followed by North-Central with N1,460.14, while the South-East recorded the least with N1,334.36.

“In terms of bus journey intercity, the South-West had the highest fare with N10,138.80 followed by the North-West with N10,083.57 while South-South recorded the least with N9,266.49. Air transportation in May 2026, the South-South recorded the highest fare with N163,508.93 followed by the NorthWest with N160,760.35 while the North-East had the least with N152,170.30.”

“Also, commuters on a motorcycle (Okada) paid the highest fare in the South-West with N1,184.15 followed by SouthEast with N1,111.58, while the North-Central recorded the least with N998.38. The South -South zone had the highest fare on water transport with N5,112.51, followed by the South-West with N2,279.69, while the North-East had the least with N1,411.60.”