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Average Transport Fare Surges 98% After Fuel Subsidy Removal

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Transport Fare

By Adedapo Adesanya

* Cost of other alternatives transport soar in Review Month

** Ripples of fuel subsidy spur rise in food, rent, others

*** President Tinubu launches palliative measures to cushion effect

The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per increased by 97.9 per cent from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023 as Nigerians grapple with a rise in prices after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy.

This was contained in the Transport Fare Watch June 2023 released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) over the weekend, confirming the grim reality that the average commuting Nigerian faces on a daily basis.

In the report seen by Business Post, it was shown that on a year-on-year basis, the average cost of bus fare rose by 120.63 per cent from N582.61 in June 2022 to N1,285.41 in the review month.

In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity rose by 42.1 per cent on a month-on-month basis to N5,686.49 in June 2023 from N4,002.16 in May 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 55.3 per cent from N3,662.87 in June 2022.

President Tinubu during his inauguration speech on May 29 announced that fuel subsidies, which gulped N4.3 trillion alone in 2022, were no more since the administration of Mr Muhammadu Buhari did not make provisions beyond June 2023 in the budget.

This caused an instant surge of over 40 per cent, creating a ripple effect in other basic needs like food, shelter, and other transportation alternatives over demand increase.

In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes’ single journeys increased by 4.9 per cent from N74,948.78 in May 2023 to N78,640.54 in June 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 40.2 per cent from N56,082.64 in June 2022.

The average transport fare paid on commercial motorcycle, otherwise known as Okada transportation was N618.52 in June 2023, 33.1 per cent higher than the rate recorded in May 2023 (N464.55). On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 48.3 per cent when compared with June 2022 (N416.97).

For water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in June 2023 increased to N1,366.22 from N1,045.15 in May 2023. On a year-on-year basis, it increased by 44.8 per cent from N943.26 in June 2022.

On state profile analysis, Bauchi state recorded the highest bus journey within the city (per drop constant route) in June 2023 with N1,700.00, followed by Jigawa with N1,570.00. On the other hand, Imo state recorded the least with N710.00, followed by Adamawa with N840.00.

For intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Abuja with N8,500.00, followed by Anambra with N8,000.00. The least fare was recorded in Kwara with N3,400.00, followed by Zamfara with N3,700.00.

Similarly, Delta State recorded the highest air transport charges (for specified routes single journeys) with N87,000.00, followed by Kebbi with N83,500.00. Conversely, Abia recorded the least fare with N70,000.00, followed by Niger with N73,000.00.

Also, Lagos state had the highest motorcycle transport fare in June 2023 with N900.00, followed by Taraba with N850.00. The least fare was recorded in Edo with N250.00, followed by Bayelsa with N300.

In terms of water transport fare, the highest was in Rivers with N5,000.00, followed by Bayelsa with N4,500.00, while the least fare was recorded in Borno with N450.00, followed by Kebbi and Gombe with N500.00 each.

Analysis by zone showed that in June 2023, transport fares of bus journeys within the city recorded the highest in the South-South with N1,411.67, followed by the North-East with N1,318.33, while the South-East recorded the least with N1,162.00.

In terms of bus journey intercity, the South-East had the highest fare with N5,950.03, followed by the South-West with N5,916,67, while North-Central recorded the least with N5,398.57. The North-East recorded the highest fare of air transport in June 2023 with N80,650.00, followed by the South-South with N80,000.00, while the North-Central had the least with N76,357.14.

Also, commuters on a motorcycle (Okada) paid the highest fare in the North-East and South-West with N690.00 each, followed by the North-Central with N667.14, while the North-West recorded the least with N473.57. The South-South zone had the highest fare on water transport with N3,533.33, followed by the South-West with N1,275.00, while the North-East had the least with N783.33.

President Tinubu in a television broadcast on Monday, July 31, announced over $500 million financial package to assist households hurt by his economic reforms.

He defended his decision to scrap the fuel subsidy, saying it only benefited a few so-called elites, saying he was aware of the hardships that the decision caused citizens and promised his government was working to help.

The latest measures announced by the president include allocations for a review of the minimum wage, support for micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprises, and the purchase of 3,000 gas-powered buses to reduce the cost of transportation.

President Tinubu also ordered the immediate release of 200,000 metric tons of grains to households, in an effort to lower prices and 225,000 metric tons of fertilizers, seedlings and other inputs to farmers.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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inDrive Lagos, Abuja Top Drivers Get N30m Fuel, Shopping Vouchers

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inDrive Driver Rewards Campaign

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Top drivers of a global mobility and urban services platform, inDrive, in Lagos and Abuja were recently rewarded with fuel and shopping vouchers worth N30 million through its Driver Rewards Campaign.

The promo was created by the company in response to rising fuel costs and increasing operational expenses. It is providing meaningful support to its driver community through this initiative, while celebrating their commitment and hard work for keeping Nigeria’s major cities moving every day.

The campaign, which started in March and will end in June 2026, involves distributing vouchers worth N30,000 each to 1,000 eligible drivers through a series of live raffle draws on inDrive’s digital platforms. This effort is designed to acknowledge and reward the most active drivers on the platform for their unwavering dedication and commitment to providing high-quality service to passengers.

The Country Lead for inDrive Nigeria, Mr Timothy Oladimeji, noted that the initiative underscores the organisation’s ongoing commitment to driver welfare and its mission to foster equitable opportunities within the mobility ecosystem.

Mr Oladimeji explained that the Driver Rewards Campaign is designed to ease some financial burdens while encouraging and celebrating drivers’ resilience, professionalism, and dedication to service.

“At inDrive, we understand the realities drivers face every day, especially as rising fuel prices continue to put pressure on their earnings. Our drivers are the backbone of our platform, and this campaign is our way of recognising their dedication and supporting them meaningfully.

“Through these rewards, we want to show that inDrive stands with drivers, values their contribution and remains committed to creating a fairer and more rewarding mobility ecosystem,” he said.

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inDrive Unveils International Social Initiative Against Bullying

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inDrive Cancel the School Trip campaign

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A social initiative to encourage parents to pay closer attention to their children’s emotional well-being and create space for open conversations has been launched by a global mobility and delivery platform, inDrive.

It is based on inDrive’s Cancel the School Trip campaign, first launched in Kazakhstan in April 2026.

Encouraged by the significant public interest in the project, inDrive intends to roll out the initiative across other markets within its global presence, including Nigeria.

As part of the initiative, users taking morning rides to school received a push notification asking whether they wanted to cancel the trip after the ride had already started. The message appeared to be an app error, but in reality, it served as a communication trigger — a way to pull parents out of their daily routine and redirect their attention to their child’s emotional state.

School bullying remains one of the most widespread — and at the same time one of the least visible — issues affecting teenagers worldwide. According to UNICEF, millions of children regularly experience bullying, yet many never speak about it to adults.

“We need to talk to children more often. Not just ask How are you? But genuinely notice their emotional state, mood, and changes in behaviour. Sometimes, even a short conversation can help identify a problem a child may be afraid to talk about,” the Country Lead for inDrive Nigeria, Mr Timothy Oladimeji, stated.

The symbol of the campaign became the back seat of a car — a space where parent and child are alone together and can talk without distractions. The organisers believe there is not always a need to create entirely new communication rituals; sometimes, it is enough to pay more attention to moments that already exist in everyday life. Even a few minutes of conversation on the way to school can help a child feel heard and safe enough to share their concerns.

In addition to digital tools, installations shaped like car seats were placed across Almaty in shopping malls and at busy city intersections. As part of the initiative, an online platform with practical recommendations for parents was also developed together with child psychologists.

The platform includes materials on recognising signs of bullying, starting difficult conversations with children, and supporting them in challenging situations.

The campaign was followed by a roundtable discussion in Kazakhstan that brought together psychologists, parents, influencers, and representatives of the creative industry. Participants discussed why bullying often remains hidden, how teenage aggression is evolving and which communication approaches help build trust between adults and children.

A separate part of the discussion focused on how to talk to children about difficult emotions and experiences. According to psychologist Kseniya Lych, standard questions are often ineffective because children answer them automatically. Instead, prompts involving imagination and open-ended thinking tend to reduce tension and encourage dialogue.

The initiative received strong public attention and positive feedback from parents, psychologists and the professional community. As a result, inDrive is already planning to expand the campaign to other markets where it operates, adapting it to each country’s local context.

“We see that bullying is an equally painful issue across different countries and cultures. That is why we want to develop this initiative internationally and launch similar projects in other inDrive markets. For us, it is important not only to raise awareness about the problem, but also to help parents pay closer attention to their children’s emotional well-being and start conversations in time,” says Yevgeniy Gavrilchenko, co-author of the idea and Creative Lead at inLab by inDrive.

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FRSC Condemns Attack on Traffic Enforcement Team by DSS Official

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Shehu Mohammed FRSC Corps Marshall

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Shehu Mohammed, has kicked against an alleged violent attack on the traffic enforcement team of the organisation by a motorist, who was later identified as a security operative.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Corps Commander for Public Education, Mr Osondu Ohaeri, in Abuja on Friday, it was claimed that the motorist was suspected to be an official of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Narrating the incident in the statement, the FRSC said on Thursday, May 21, 2026, its officials flagged down a Toyota Carina driver for a suspected traffic violation at about 3:20 pm, but he refused to stop and proceeded dangerously until he was eventually held up by traffic close to the Command in Idu, Abuja.

“Upon approach by the patrol team for routine checks of vehicle and driver documents, the offender became hostile, verbally aggressive, and resisted lawful enforcement procedures.

“Despite several tactical and professional attempts by FRSC personnel to de-escalate the situation, the offender escalated the confrontation by physically advancing toward officers and later drawing a pistol, which he fired twice within the vicinity of the Command.

“In the face of imminent danger to lives and property, FRSC personnel acted with remarkable restraint, professionalism, and tactical discipline to swiftly disarm the assailant without loss of life. One Marshal sustained minor bruises during the process,” the statement narrated.

It was disclosed that the suspect was immediately handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at Life Camp Police Station alongside the firearm, ammunition components, and the vehicle involved, with the matter transferred to the appropriate State Command for further investigation.

In the statement, Mr Mohammed praised his men for the courage, professionalism, and maturity displayed by them, saying he’s impressed with how they resisted provocation and ensured that the situation did not degenerate into chaos, despite growing public outrage at the scene.

He further stated unequivocally that no individual, regardless of status, rank, or agency affiliation, is above the law, emphasising that security personnel are expected to lead by example through compliance with established traffic regulations and respect for constituted authority.

He called on all security agencies to continue strengthening inter-agency cooperation, mutual respect, and operational discipline in the collective interest of national security and public safety.

“Firearms and official status must never be used as instruments of intimidation against law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate duties,” he stressed.

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