Transportation in Nigeria by land within and between states, experienced an increase in prices in July 2018 despite slight drop in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as Petrol in the same month.
The average amount paid by road commuters within their states of residence and also to other states showed a slight increase, which does not reflect the positive causal effect which a drop in the price of petrol is supposed to have on transport price.
According to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics presenting the varying transport rates for Land, Air and Water, as well as individual fares for states, states, the average bus fare within cities experienced a 0.82% month on month increase following a 30.36% year on year increase, arriving at a new price of N170.03 in July from June’s N168.90.
The Federal Capital Territory leads the states with the highest transport fare rate within the city and its environs, with N335.00 well above average by N165. Bauchi State on the other hand saw lower transport cost as its average fare price of N90 despite having N145.40 fuel price which is not too different from Abuja’s average litre price of N146.50.
Bus journeys from state to state also witnessed an increase in its pricing with 0.30% month on month and 14.81% year on year to N1,733.33 in July 2018 from N1,729.01 in June of the same year. Abuja also leads this pack as the most expensive place to travel to with an average fare of N4,200.00 showing a N1,000 difference from the next state, Adamawa whose average is N3,200. Bauchi on the other hand is the least expensive to travel to with an average of N1,060.00.
Also experiencing increase in its average price rate is the fare paid by Nigerians who commute by way of motorcycles commonly referred to as Okada. Experiencing a 0.92% month on month increment, and 4.69% year on year increment, showing a new average of N107.43 in July from N106.06 in June 2018. Imo State marks the first appearance of the east on the expensive list with an average of N200.00, while Niger State is the lowest with N60.00 per drop.
Further analysis of the report reveal that fares paid by air passengers, also increased by 0.59% month on month and also the least increment in transportation on a year on year basis with 0.54%, averaging at N32,016.22 per flight in the month of July. With Lagos leading above average with N41,500.00 and Katsina coming below average by N7,516.22 with N24,500.00.
Waterway transport is the only transport means that experienced a decrease in its pricing with a 1.27% month on month and -5.00% year on year drop in July 2018. The new average of N569.32 is less than the preceding month’s N574.30. The state with the highest fare average is Bayelsa with N2,000.00 while Abuja despite its steep land prices, is the cheapest by water at N150.000.
