According to the latest Transport Fare Watch of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), transportation costs increased significantly in August 2023. The average fare paid by bus passengers within the city increased by 121.81% year-on-year from N602.48 in August 2022 to N1,336.38 in August 2023. Similarly, the average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus journeys rose by 56.6% year-on-year from N3,779.96 in August 2022 to N5,918.18 in August 2023. The rising transport costs could be attributed to the removal of subsidies on petrol. While the development is expected to improve the government’s fiscal position, it imposes a heavy financial burden on citizens.
October 12, 2023