The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that the average cost of bus transportation within Nigerian cities experienced a substantial rise, increasing from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023. This surge occurred in tandem with the upward movement of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).
The escalation in intra-city bus transportation costs represents a significant 98% increase or N636 within the span of just one month. Data from the NBS’s Transport Fare Watch report for June 2023 provides these insights. The report encompasses detailed information about bus journeys within cities on a per-drop constant route basis, as well as intercity bus journeys and the corresponding charges per person, among other modes of transportation.
Year-on-year statistics reveal that bus fares have surged by 120.63%, rising from N582.61 in June 2022 to the June 2023 figure. Specifically, the average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus journeys per drop saw a month-on-month increase of 42.09%, climbing from N4,002.16 in May 2023 to N5,686.49 in June 2023.
In the context of bus journeys within the city, the average fare per drop experienced a noteworthy 97.88% surge, growing from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023. On a year-on-year basis, this figure rose by 120.63%, up from N582.61 in June 2022.
Another category highlighted in the report is the average fare for intercity bus journeys per drop, which also demonstrated an upward trend. In June 2023, this fare reached N5,686.49, showcasing a month-on-month increase of 42.09% from N4,002.16 in May 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare increased by 55.25%, compared to N3,662.87 in June 2022.