By Ben Adoga, Anthony Otaru, and Cajetan Mmuta
As Nigerians prepare for the Christmas and New Year festivities, the annual tradition of travelling home to reunite with family and loved ones has become a painful dilemma for many, as soaring transport fares and worsening insecurity on major highways combine to shut millions out of yuletide travel.
With air travel now largely beyond the reach of average citizens, road transportation has become the default option for most Nigerians.
However, fares on major routes have risen to unprecedented levels this season, while persistent cases of kidnapping and banditry on highways have heightened fears among travellers.
Findings across major transport terminals in Abuja on Sunday showed that road transportation fares have surged sharply since December 18, with prices on some routes doubling or tripling compared to pre-Christmas rates.
Road travel from Abuja to Lagos, which previously cost between ₦20,000 and ₦25,000, now averages between ₦50,000 and ₦95,000, depending on the transport company and vehicle type. Eastbound routes have recorded even steeper increases.
A survey of major transport operators showed that Nothing Pass God Transport Company Limited now charges ₦40,000 for the Abuja–Enugu route, up from ₦20,000–₦22,000.
Abuja–Onitsha now sells for ₦50,000 by bus and ₦55,000 by Sienna, compared to ₦20,000–₦22,000 previously. Abuja–Lagos tickets now cost ₦50,000 by bus and ₦55,000 or more by Sienna, while Abuja–Aba now attracts fares of ₦50,000 by bus and ₦52,000 and above by Sienna.
Talex Express Motors charges similar rates on these routes.
At God Is Good (GIG) Motors, the increases are even more pronounced.
As of Sunday, Abuja–Lagos tickets were selling for ₦93,500, Abuja–Onitsha for ₦81,500, Abuja–Aba for ₦83,000, and Abuja–Enugu for ₦76,800.
Abuja–Port Harcourt, which previously cost about ₦25,000, now sells for between ₦60,000 and ₦65,000.
GUO Motors recorded comparable prices, with Abuja–Lagos tickets at ₦94,500, Abuja–Onitsha at ₦82,500, Abuja–Enugu at ₦77,800, and Abuja–Aba at ₦84,000.
For South-South routes, the Akwa Ibom Transport Corporation (AKTC), Cross Lines and Calculux Transport Limited operate daily services to Calabar and Uyo.
AKTC, which previously charged between ₦20,000 and ₦25,000, now sells tickets for ₦60,000, while Cross Lines charges ₦50,000. Calculux Transport Limited now charges ₦65,000 to Calabar and Uyo.
*Travellers trapped between costly flights, risky roads
The sharp increase in fares has forced many Abuja residents to abandon their annual Christmas travels altogether.
Beyond cost, many travellers say insecurity on Nigeria’s highways has become the most frightening factor.
Reports of kidnappings, armed robberies and attacks on commercial vehicles have made road travel increasingly dangerous.
A traveller, Mr Abraham Arikpo, who recently journeyed to Calabar via Ogoja, lamented both the high cost of transportation and the conditions under which passengers are conveyed.
“We were loaded like cargo,” he said. “The road from Abuja is good up to Makurdi. From Makurdi to Gboko is just manageable. But from Gboko through Ogoja and Ikom to Calabar, the road is terrible. You can only imagine what passengers go through.”
Other travellers described journeys through Lokoja towards the South-East as extremely risky.
“From Lokoja until you get to Obollo-Afor, you travel with your heart in your mouth,” one passenger said. “Bandits can strike at any time and from any location.”
For some, the fear has tipped the balance in favour of air travel, despite the cost. Mrs Joy Akpanika, an Abuja-based professional, said she would rather fly than risk travelling by road.
“If I must travel now, I will fly, no matter the cost,” she said. “It is better to pay high airfare than to pay ransom after the trauma and dehumanisation by some idiots who are worth nothing. The level of insecurity in the country has made road travel a no-no.”
Yet, for many Nigerians, flying is not an option. Chinasa Musa, who said her family had maintained a Christmas reunion tradition since 2022 after the death of their father, said this year would be different.
“I can’t afford air tickets, and I can’t risk travelling by road,” she said. “I would have used the opportunity to show my mother and brother my fiancé, but I can’t. I just called my mum and told her I won’t make it. My sister is also in Abuja, and I told her not to travel either.”
Stakeholders in the transport sector attribute the surge in fares to a mix of surging demand, limited supply, high operational costs, worsening insecurity, and broader economic pressures.
Managers of transport companies and aviation operators said the festive rush, compounded by inflation, fuel price hikes, currency pressures, and security challenges, has sharply increased costs.
An economist, Ben Uwadiae, said the soaring fares reflect Nigeria’s high inflation and rising energy costs.
“Fuel prices have moved from about ₦185 per litre to about ₦900,” he said. “When you combine that with inflation and the impact of government policies, the burden is inevitably transferred to consumers.”
Transport operators also cited a shortage of drivers as a significant factor. The Supervising Manager of Peace Mass Transport at Zuba Park, Joseph Chibuike, said insecurity has forced many drivers out of the job.
“As we speak, many of our drivers have run away because of insecurity,” he said. “Just three days ago, over 10 buses were stopped and passengers kidnapped in Kogi. Drivers don’t want to be kidnapped for ransom. This has reduced capacity and increased fares.”
In the aviation sector, airline operators acknowledged the challenges.
The Managing Director of Aero Contractors Nigeria, Captain Ado Sanusi, said airlines are also grappling with economic pressures but are exploring ways to ease the burden on passengers.
“We understand the challenges families face during this period,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to introduce more pocket-friendly fares to help families reunite.
Professor Samuel Odewumi of Lagos State University described the surge as a product of high demand meeting limited supply.
“This is a normal economic mechanism,” he said. “High prices tend to moderate non-essential travel. But the fundamental drivers remain fuel costs, foreign exchange challenges and insecurity.”
Meanwhile, findings in Awka, Anambra State, showed that transport fares there recorded only slight increases.
A staff member of GUO Transport Company, Mr Ike Ogbonna, said the fares for the Awka–Lagos and Awka–Abuja routes rose by about ₦2,000.
“There is no unusual rush this season,” he said. “The demand is average. We also thank God for safety, but the government must do more to secure the highways.”
A senior staff member of GIG Motors, who declined to be named, attributed the slight fare adjustments in Awka to maintenance and operational costs.
“There is more wear and tear on the buses, and staff welfare must be considered,” he said. “When there is a rush, more buses are deployed, and that comes with higher costs.”
Passengers, however, expressed frustration. Miss Mercy Okoh, an Abuja-bound traveller, described the fares as “outrageous and biting.”
“The government should reduce petrol prices and guarantee security on our roads,” she said.
Another passenger, Mr Alfred William, urged authorities to be more sensitive to the plight of citizens.
“Our government must wake up to its responsibility,” he said. “People are kidnapped daily on our roads, and the roads themselves are in poor condition.”
As Christmas draws closer, security agencies say measures have been intensified across several states, particularly in the South-East, to ensure a hitch-free celebration. But for many Nigerians, the cost and fear associated with travel have already taken their toll.
For a growing number of families, Christmas this year will be marked not by reunions, but by phone calls, regrets and unanswered questions about when safe and affordable travel will return.
*FCCPC cracks down on unjustified fare hikes
Meanwhile, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned inter-city road transport operators against arbitrary and unexplained fare increases during the ongoing yuletide travel season, following a nationwide spike in consumer complaints.
The caution was contained in a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, amid growing public concern over sharp transport fare hikes across major routes as Nigerians travel for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
While acknowledging that seasonal demand, operational pressures and other legitimate cost drivers may affect transport pricing, the Commission stressed that passengers are entitled to clear, accurate and timely disclosure of fares before embarking on any journey.
The FCCPC stated that any fare adjustment must be communicated transparently and applied fairly, warning that unexplained or sudden price increases undermine consumer rights and market integrity.
“The FCCPC also notes that these complaints are arising at a time when there are reports of reductions in the pump price of premium motor spirit across parts of the country,” the statement said. “While fuel cost is only one of several inputs that may influence transport fares, increases that are not properly explained or disclosed raise valid consumer protection concerns.”
Commenting on the development, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the FCCPC is closely monitoring market conduct throughout the festive period and has intensified engagement with transport unions, park managers and operators nationwide.
According to him, the engagements are primarily preventive and aimed at encouraging responsible pricing, voluntary compliance with consumer protection standards and orderly market behaviour during the high-demand season.
Bello clarified that price increases are not unlawful in themselves. However, he warned that practices which exploit consumers or take unfair advantage of heightened seasonal demand could attract regulatory sanctions under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
He further cautioned that inadequate fare disclosure, coercive conduct, or coordinated pricing arrangements among transport operators to the detriment of consumers would be subjected to strict regulatory scrutiny, adding that violations would attract stiff penalties where established.
The FCCPC advised travellers to confirm fares before making payments, retain proof of payment and promptly report any suspected unfair practices through its official complaints portal or dedicated consumer hotlines.
The Commission said it remains committed to protecting consumers and ensuring fair, transparent and competitive pricing practices in Nigeria’s transport sector, particularly during peak travel periods
