The cost of domestic air travel in Nigeria continued its upward trajectory in May 2026, with the average one-way airfare rising above ₦157,000, according to the latest Transport Fare Watch report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report showed that passengers paid an average fare of ₦157,552.19 for a specified domestic route during the month, representing a 20.86 per cent increase compared to the ₦130,361.85 recorded in May 2025. On a month-on-month basis, fares also edged up by 0.12 per cent from April 2026, underscoring the sustained increase in travel costs across the country.
Among the states, Kano recorded the highest average airfare at ₦184,139.29, followed by Lagos at ₦176,971.65. Gombe posted the lowest average fare at ₦135,800.61, while Nasarawa followed closely with ₦138,999.14.
Regional analysis showed that the South-South recorded the highest average air transport fare at ₦163,508.93, ahead of the North-West at ₦160,760.35. The North-East posted the lowest regional average at ₦152,170.30.
The increase in airfares comes amid rising operating costs faced by domestic airlines, including higher aviation fuel prices, exchange rate pressures and maintenance expenses, all of which continue to influence ticket pricing.
The NBS report also highlighted increases across other modes of transportation. The average fare for bus journeys within cities rose to ₦1,431.25 in May, representing a 2.43 per cent increase from April and a 38.63 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.
Intercity bus fares also increased, with commuters paying an average of ₦9,699.55 per trip, up 21.89 per cent year-on-year. Ondo State recorded the highest average intercity fare at ₦11,080, closely followed by Abia State at ₦11,066.13, while Kwara and Edo states recorded the lowest fares.
Motorcycle transport, popularly known as Okada, recorded one of the sharpest increases, with the average fare climbing to ₦1,072.51, representing a 52.45 per cent increase from May 2025. Kaduna and Lagos states posted the highest motorcycle fares, while Adamawa and Akwa Ibom recorded the lowest.
Water transport fares also maintained an upward trend, with passengers paying an average of ₦2,276.48 in May, an increase of 30.88 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Rivers and Bayelsa states recorded the highest water transport fares, reflecting the continued rise in transportation costs across the country.
The latest figures reinforce the broader inflationary pressures affecting Nigeria’s transport sector, with rising operating costs continuing to drive fare increases across air, road and water transportation.
