Cost Of Flight Tickets In Nigeria Doubles In The Past Month

The cost of airline tickets has doubled in the past month even as passengers are opting for flights due to rising rates of kidnappings and killings in the country. 

Tickets from Lagos to Port Harcourt have risen about 100%, from N26,000 to N60,000 on Air Peace, and all flights were fully booked until the 12th of April.

One-way flight from Lagos to Kano which formerly cost N35,000 now costs between N56,500 and N90,000, depending on how early the flight was booked.

The number of road travelers has significantly dropped in the past months as kidnappers and bandits have plagued Nigerian roads, especially in the North Central, North East, and East. Tickets from Lagos to the Northern States like Adamawa, Kebbi, Borno, Kano and Illorin have increased by more than 100 percent.

According to the airlines, one of the reasons for the increase in airfares is the recent hike in naira-dollar prices. All maintenance needs of planes are paid for in US dollars and with the constant devaluation of the naira, airlines have to increase prices to keep up with fees.

Another factor is the recent suspension of Azman Air by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority due to safety concerns and failed standard checks. According to passengers, other airlines increased the cost of flights to the northern parts of the country as soon as the suspension was common. This is not uncommon, as companies are known to inflate prices when competition is reduced.

The increased prices pose a lot of problems to travelers, with the recession and inflation in prices of nearly everything, money is harder to come by, and they have no choice but to pay as the risk associated with plying roads is not one they can take.