Domestic air travelers faced a 25 percent increase in flight costs in July 2024, according to a new report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The bureau’s Transport Fare Watch Report for July indicated that domestic airfares rose to ₦98,561.74, up from ₦78,775.74 in July 2023, reflecting a 25 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase.

NBS said: “In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey was N98,561.74 in July 2024, showing an increase of 9.65 per cent compared to the previous month (June 2024).

“On a YoY basis, the fare rose by 25.12 per cent from N78,775.74 in July 2023.”

The development comes after the federal government last month, said it would further raise its tax charges amid complaints by the Airline Operators of Nigeria over multiple taxation.

Despite the increase in airfare in July, the prices paid for bus, motorcycle and waterway journeys declined in July 2024.

NBS said: “The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop decreased to 2.18% from N963.58 in June 2024 to N942.61 in July 2024. On a year-on-year basis, it declined by 29.46% from N1,336.29 in July 2023.

“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop was N7,117.17 in July 2024, indicating an increase of 0.35% on a month-on-month basis compared to N7,092.03 in June 2024.

“The average transport fare paid on Okada transportation was N483.33 in July 2024 which shows an increase of 1.22% when compared with the value recorded in June 2024 (N477.49).

“On a year-on-year basis, the fare decreased by 25.20% when compared with July 2023 (N646.12). For water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in July 2024 was N1,403.06 which indicates a decline of 0.44% on a monthly basis.

“On a year-on-year basis, it decreased by 0.26% from N1,406.70 in July 2023.

“On state profile analysis, for intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Anambra with N9,566.89, followed by Gombe with N8,299.44.

“The lowest fare was recorded in Kwara with N5,518.38, followed by Ebonyi with N5,596.11. Taraba state recorded the highest number of bus journeys within the city (per drop constant route) in July 2024 with N1,457.28 followed by Ondo with N1,200.94.

“On the other hand, Adamawa recorded the least with N500.00, followed by Abia with N505.35.