Cost of waterways transportation rises by 31 percent in Q2 2026 — NBS

The cost of travelling by water in Nigeria has risen significantly, with waterway passenger ares jumping by 30.88 percent year-on-year in May 2026, the latest Transport Fare Watch by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.

The increase places water transportation among the transport categories that recorded the sharpest year-on-year fare increases during the period, coming behind motorcycle and intra-city bus transportation, but ahead of intercity bus and air travel.

The NBS data showed that the average fare paid for waterway passenger transportation rose from N1,739.32 in May 2025, to N2,276.48, in May 2026.

The figure also represents a 2.41 percent increase from the N2, 222.99 recorded in April 2026, showing that the cost of water transportation continued to rise monthly.

The development is significant for the maritime sector as waterways are increasingly being promoted as an alternative to road transportation, particularly in Lagos and other coastal and riverine communities.

The latest NBS figures showed that the national average fare of N2,276.48 masks substantial differences across the country.

Rivers State recorded the highest average water transport fare at N6,893.55, followed by Bayelsa at N5,600.02, while Borno recorded the lowest at N1,010.50, followed by the Federal Capital Territory at N1,128.68.

The difference between Rivers and Borno is striking, with the average fare in Rivers about N5,883 higher than the figure recorded in Borno.

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At the regional level, the South-South recorded the highest average water transport fare at N5,112.51, while the North-East recorded the lowest at N1,411.60.

For Lagos, the development is particularly important given the state’s growing reliance on waterways as part of efforts to reduce pressure on its congested road network.

Data released on Lagos waterways, showed that passenger movements increased during much of the first half of 2026, reaching 467,854 passenger movements in June the highest monthly figure in the six-month period. The figure compared with 418,564 in June 2025.

The growing patronage, however, is taking place against a backdrop of rising operating costs and fares, raising questions about whether water transportation can remain an affordable mass-transit option for ordinary Lagos residents.

The NBS data showed that water transport fares have increased by more than 117 per cent since May 2023, rising from N1,045.15 to N2,276.48 in May 2026.

This means that the average fare has more than doubled in three years.

Industry operators have previously attributed rising water transport costs to the increasing expenses of maintaining boats, servicing engines and procuring spare parts, with operators warning that they cannot continue running at a loss.