Nigerian transport fares rise sharply in May 2026, hitting commuters hard
The National Bureau of Statistics reported that the average fare for intracity bus trips in Nigerian cities rose to N1,431.25 in May 2026, up 2.43% from April and 38.63% higher than May 2025. Intercity bus fares climbed to N9,699.55 (+0.96% month‑on‑month, +21.89% year‑on‑year), average domestic airfare to N157,552.19 (+0.12% MoM, +20.86% YoY), motorcycle (Okada) rides to N1,072.51 (+3.56% MoM, +52.45% YoY – the highest annual rise), and water transport to N2,276.48 (+2.41% MoM, +30.88% YoY). State‑level data show Ondo and Abia with the highest intercity bus fares (over N11,000), while Zamfara and Taraba top city bus costs (over N1,700). Kano leads in airfare (N184,139), Kaduna in Okada (N1,720), and Rivers in water transport (N6,894). The South‑West zone recorded the highest fares for city buses, intercity buses and Okada; the South‑South zone posted the highest water transport costs.
Transport costs consume a large share of household budgets, pushing up prices of goods and services and contributing to headline inflation, which rose to 15.93% in May 2026 from 15.69% in April amid global commodity pressures.
Given these rising costs, will you adjust your travel habits—such as car‑pooling, shifting to cheaper routes, negotiating remote work, or revising your monthly budget—to cushion the impact on your finances?