After-Holiday Relief as Air, Road Travel Fares Crash Nationwide

Travel costs across Nigeria have dropped significantly following the sharp fare increases recorded during the December festive season, offering much-needed relief to commuters after weeks of unusually high prices.

During the Yuletide peak, one-way domestic flight tickets surged to between ₦400,000 and ₦500,000 on major routes, driven by heightened demand and worsening insecurity on highways, which pushed many travellers to choose air transport despite the cost. Road transport fares also spiked, with Abuja–Lagos bus trips selling for as much as ₦55,000, while Abuja–Enugu routes ranged between ₦30,000 and ₦45,000.

Transport operators at the time blamed the hikes on rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs and overwhelming seasonal demand.

However, checks across airports and motor parks now show a broad fare correction. Road travel costs have eased considerably, with Abuja–Lagos tickets dropping to about ₦31,000, Abuja–Enugu to between ₦23,000 and ₦28,000, Abuja–Ibadan to ₦28,000 and Abuja–Port Harcourt to about ₦36,000.

Airfares have recorded even steeper declines. Average one-way tickets from Abuja to Lagos have fallen by roughly 72 per cent—from about ₦450,000 during the festive rush to around ₦125,000. Other routes, including Abuja–Enugu and Abuja–Ilorin, have also seen notable reductions. As of January 10, 2026, one-way Abuja–Lagos flights were priced between ₦122,458 and ₦125,001, while return tickets ranged from ₦237,002 to ₦263,989. Abuja–Enugu fares dropped to as low as ₦93,300 for mid-January travel.

The December surge had drawn national concern, prompting a debate in the Senate on December 10, 2025, when lawmakers raised alarms over domestic airfares that had climbed as high as ₦650,000 on some routes. Aviation authorities maintained that ticket prices were market-driven. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), attributed the high fares to operational constraints such as aircraft shortages, expensive leasing arrangements, lack of local maintenance facilities and heavy dependence on foreign exchange.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) echoed this view, noting that increased competition and aircraft availability could naturally push fares down, though it lacks regulatory powers to control prices.

Airline operators, however, remain divided on affordability. Air Peace Chairman and CEO, Allen Onyema, argued that Nigeria still offers some of the cheapest domestic airfares globally when viewed in dollar terms, warning that low pricing has contributed to the collapse of many local airlines over the years.

In contrast, aviation analyst Dr Alex Nwuba, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN), said Nigeria’s fares are relatively expensive when adjusted for income levels and purchasing power parity. He noted that despite lower average wages, Nigerians pay more for domestic flights than travellers in many countries with stronger economies, making air travel less affordable locally.

Across states, similar post-holiday adjustments have been recorded. In Imo State, road fares have moderated, with Owerri–Lagos now around ₦31,000, Owerri–Abuja ₦34,000 and Owerri–Port Harcourt ₦9,000, although airfares to Owerri from Lagos remain relatively high.

In Gombe, government-owned transport services maintained moderate fares, while private operators raised prices sharply during the holidays before easing them afterward. Passengers complained of fare exploitation during peak periods, while drivers cited unsustainable operating costs.

In Enugu and parts of the South-East and South-South, airfares that exceeded ₦350,000 in December reportedly dropped by more than 50 per cent after January 1, 2026. Bus fares also declined as holiday traffic eased.

Similar trends were observed in Cross River State, where airline fares from Calabar fell after Christmas, reflecting lower demand. Road transport fares also dropped, returning to near pre-holiday levels by mid-January.

Transport unions and operators say the seasonal cycle of fare hikes and post-holiday reductions is driven largely by supply and demand. Economists, however, caution that the current relief may be temporary, warning that structural issues—such as high operating costs, weak purchasing power and infrastructure gaps—could trigger fresh fare increases in future peak periods.

For now, the post-holiday correction has eased the financial burden on travellers navigating an already challenging economic environment.