Nigerian air passengers paid an average of N157,552.19 for a single domestic journey in May 2026, according to the latest transport watch report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This represents a 0.12% increase from N157,361.85 recorded in April 2026 and a 20.86% surge compared with N130,361.85 in May 2025.
State-by-State Fare Disparities
The NBS report highlighted significant variations in domestic airfares across states. Kano State recorded the highest average fare at N184,139.29, followed by Lagos at N176,971.65 and Rivers at N175,774.75. On the other end, Gombe State had the lowest average fare at N135,800.61, with Nasarawa State close behind at N138,999.14.
Other states with high fares included Ogun (N173,225.68), Katsina (N169,995.88), Cross River (N169,613.44), Zamfara (N168,276.42), Taraba (N167,950.19), Abia (N167,755.90), and Oyo (N166,695.10).
States with the lowest fares after Gombe and Nasarawa were Bauchi (N142,386.79), Ebonyi (N144,999.86), Borno (N146,650.35), Kaduna (N146,980.76), Edo (N147,300.50), Enugu (N147,659.64), Jigawa (N147,780.40), and Osun (N148,022.23).
Regional Breakdown of Airfares
Regionally, the South-South zone recorded the highest average airfare at N163,508.93, followed by the North-West at N160,760.35 and the South-West at N160,637.42. The South-East averaged N155,813.42, while the North-Central and North-East zones had the lowest averages at N152,448.78 and N152,170.30, respectively.
Aviation Fuel Price Drop Offers Some Relief
In a related development, Dangote Refinery reduced the price of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (jet fuel) by N100 per litre, from N1,550 to N1,450, a 6.5% decline. This adjustment, attributed to recent crude oil price movements and improved global supply conditions, could help ease operational costs for airlines, though the impact on passenger fares remains to be seen.
