cAccording to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, water transport fares in Nigeria have experienced a significant upswing, increasing by approximately 59.19 per cent in the past three years.
Analysis of the NBS Transport Fare Watch for August 2021, 2022 and 2023 highlights the escalating fare rates.
The report reveals that on a year-on-year basis, water transport fares surged by 46.91 per cent in August 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, reaching N1,406.74 from N439.80.
In August 2022, the average fare for water transport stood at N974.26, reflecting a 0.87 per cent month-on-month growth from N965.82 in July 2022.
Year-on-year, the fare experienced an increase of 14.84 per cent from N848.36 in August 2021.
The trend persisted, with passengers paying an average of N848.36 for waterway transport in August 2021, representing a 1.97 per cent monthly rise and a substantial 23.55 per cent year-on-year increase from N831.97 in July 2021.
The report noted that in August 2023, “the South-South zone had the highest fare on water transport with N3,658.42, followed by the South-West with N1,300.04, while the North-East had the least with N787.99.”
For August 2022, it stated, “For water transport, the South-South had the highest fare paid with N2,272.00, followed by the South-West with N856.57, while the North-East had the least with N619.64.”
However, the report added that for August 2021, “States with highest fare by waterway passenger transport were Delta (N2,550.46), Bayelsa (N2,500.47) and Rivers (N2,300.06) while states with the lowest fare by waterway passenger transport were Borno (N270.64), Kebbi (N360.11) and Taraba (N380.20).”
