NBS: Air fare rises by 96.87% in one year

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday said average passenger air fare rose by 96.87 per cent, from N36,922.97 in September 2021 to N72,690.54 in September 2022.

The Federal Government agency stated this in a document, titled: Transport Fare Watch (September 2022), which The Nation obtained.

The data showed that on month-on-month basis, the fare rose by 11.76 per cent, from N65,042.89 in August 2022.

NBS said: “In air travels fare, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes’ single journey, increased by 11.76 per cent on a month-on-month, from N65,041.89 in August 2022 to N72,690.54 in September 2022. On a year-on-year, the fare rose by 96.87 per cent, from N36,922.97 in September 2021.”

Also, the document said there was a rise of 15.44 per cent average in waterway passenger fare on year-on-year basis, from N849.06 in September 2021 to N980.20 in September 2022.

It added that the fare increased by 0.61 per cent on month-on-month basis, from N974.26 in August 2021.

“Whereas the average fare paid for water transport (waterway passenger transportation) in September 2022 increased to N980.18, showing a growth of 0.61 per cent on a month-on-month basis, from N974.26 in August 2022. On year-on-year, the fare rose by 15.44 per cent, from N849.06 in September 2021 to N980.20 in September 2022,” said NBS.

The document showed that the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 2.19 per cent on a month-on-month, from N602.48 in August 2022 to N615.69 in September 2022.

According to NBS, the average year-on-year fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop rose by 41.42 per cent, from N435.36 in September 2021 to N615.69 in September 2022.

It noted that in another category, the average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus journeys per drop rose to N3,790.06 in September 2022, indicating an increase of 0.27 per cent on a month-on-month, compared to the value of N3,779.96 in August 2022.

“On a year-on-year, the fare rose by 44.61 per cent, from N2,620.90 in September 2021,” NBS said.

The document also showed that the average transport fare paid on commercial motorcycle (Okada) transportation was N434.73 in September 2022, which was 1.15 per cent lower than the rate recorded in August 2022 (N439.80) on a month-on-month basis.

It showed too that on a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 41.79 per cent when compared with September 2021 (N306.80).

Also, the NBS said the price of household kerosene (HNK) was up by 118.08 per cent in 12 months.

The bureau, in its document, titled: National Household Kerosene Price Watch (September 2022), said the price rose from N434.39 in September 2021 to N947.30 in September 2022.

The documents said: “The average retail price per litre of Household Kerosene (HHK) paid by consumers in September 2022 was N947.30, indicating an increase of 17.02 per cent compared to N809.52 recorded in August 2022. On a year-on-year basis, the average retail price per litre of the product rose by 118.08 per cent from N434.39 in September 2021.”

On state profile analysis, the NBS said the highest average price per litre in September 2022 was recorded in Enugu with N1,272.50, followed by Ebonyi with N1,263.89 and Cross River with N1,187.50.

It added that the lowest price was recorded in Rivers with N686.27, followed by Bayelsa with N715.15 and Nasarawa with N735.29.

NBS noted that analysis by zone showed that the Southeast recorded the highest average retail price per litre of HHK with N1,128.28, followed by the Southwest with N1,068.18, while the Northwest recorded the lowest with N868.89.

The document said the average retail price per gallon of HHK paid by consumers in September 2022 was N3,236.27, showing an increase of 9.79 per cent from N2,947.65 in August 2022. On a year-on-year basis, this increased by 110.04 per cent, from N1,540.82 in September 2021.

NBS explained that on state profile analysis, Abuja recorded the highest average retail price per gallon of HHK with N4,200.00, followed by Abia with N4,078.57 and Enugu with N4,052.38.

It also said on the other hand, Borno recorded the lowest price with N2,500.00, followed by Zamfara and Delta with N2,555.56 and N2,576.92 respectively. According to the document, analysis by zone showed that the Southeast recorded the highest average retail price per gallon of HHK with N3,607.38, followed by the Southwest with N3,468.42, while the Northeast recorded the lowest with N2,803.96.

Also, the NBS said the average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) paid by consumers in September 2022 was N789.90 per litre, an increase of 210.20 per cent, from N254.64 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of the previous year.

On a month-on-month basis, according to NBS, this increased by 0.38 per cent, from N786.88 per litre reported in August 2022.

On state profile analysis, the highest average price of the product in September 2022 was recorded in Ondo with N859.23, followed by Ebonyi with N849.00, and Niger with N841.67.

It added that the lowest price was recorded in Katsina with N710.00, followed by Yobe with N725.00 and Bayelsa with N726.67.

The NBS said analysis by zone showed that the Northcentral had the highest price with N811.24, while the Southsouth recorded the lowest price with N762.74.

In the period under review, the NBS said the average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for September 2022 was N191.65, indicating a 16.26 per cent increase when compared to the value recorded in September 2021 (N164.85).

It said likewise, comparing the average price value with the previous month (that is, August 2022), the average retail price increased by 1.15 per cent from N189.46.

The NBS said: “On state profile analysis, Kano had the highest average retail price for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) with N207.50, followed by Jigawa with N205.62, and Bayelsa with N204.27.

“On the other hand, Delta had the lowest average retail price for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) with N179.74, followed by Edo with N183.17 and Borno with N184.50. In addition, analysis by zone showed that the Northwest recorded the highest average retail price in September 2022 with N197.51, while the Northeast had the lowest with N186.52.”