What road passengers paid across Nigeria in May 2026

The highest city bus average was more than twice the lowest

Zamfara’s May city bus average was ₦1,878.80, ahead of Taraba at ₦1,771.96 and Lagos at ₦1,741.43. Abia recorded ₦890.05 and Adamawa ₦918.47. The gap between Zamfara and Abia was ₦988.75 for the surveyed trips. Source 1

The states at the intercity extremes were different

Ondo led the intercity bus table at ₦11,080.00, followed by Abia at ₦11,066.13 and the Federal Capital Territory at ₦11,024.94. Kwara had the lowest average at ₦7,969.29. Abia’s two positions illustrate why a city bus ranking should not be carried over to intercity fares. Source 1

Motorcycle fares had the largest annual percentage increase of the three

The nationwide motorcycle trip average rose from ₦703.54 in May 2025 to ₦1,072.51 in May 2026, a 52.45% increase. City buses rose 38.63% and intercity buses rose 21.89% to ₦9,699.55. In the motorcycle state table, Kaduna was highest at ₦1,720.76 and Adamawa lowest at ₦761.32. Source 1

The survey compares trips within a mode

City bus and motorcycle data refer to a trip or drop as sampled by NBS, while intercity prices refer to specified state routes per person. The averages are in current naira and give no price per kilometre. A state average does not specify what any individual operator charges for a particular trip. Source 1 Source 2

Sources

• Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics, Transport Fare Watch report and May 2026 state workbook
• Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics, Transport Fare Watch study description