Transport fares from Lagos to the South-Japanese states have begun rising forward of the annual Christmas migration, with operators warning that costs will proceed to extend sharply from December 18 as demand peaks.
A Nairametrics market survey throughout main Lagos parks exhibits present fares starting from N25,500 to N73,500, relying on vacation spot and car sort, with projections indicating a 20%–30% enhance in the course of the peak journey interval.
The South-East—overlaying Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia—stays one of many busiest outbound corridors from Lagos in the course of the festive season as travellers return dwelling for household visits, social occasions, and cultural ceremonies.
Present fares throughout main parks
A pricing overview performed in Jibowu, Mile 2, Iyana Ipaja, and Ikorodu Storage, complemented by on-line checks, exhibits the next fares for 15-seater and 7-seater buses as of December 11, 2025:
Notes:
- Decrease fare ranges are typically provided by smaller transport corporations with out AC or in depth department networks.
- Greater fare ranges are supplied by main operators providing AC, bus TV, padded and well-spaced seats, and scheduled departures.
What to anticipate in the course of the peak interval
Fares from Lagos to the South-East are anticipated to rise as the height festive interval approaches, usually beginning round December 18. A ticketing clerk at Peace Mass Transit, Ikorodu Storage Terminal, defined that value will increase are gradual, often by N1,000 to N1,500 at a time, till they attain the height vary.
For instance, in December 2024, the common fare for a 15-seater bus from Lagos to the South-Japanese states, which usually charged about N32,000, settled round N41,500, in line with the expertise of a ticketing clerk for a transport firm working out of Mile 2.
Based mostly on historic tendencies and insights from transport operators, fares in the course of the peak interval from round December 18 onwards are anticipated to extend by 20% to 30% and would stay at these ranges till the second or third week of January.
For 15-seater buses, the decrease finish of fares might rise to round N30,600, whereas the higher finish might attain N67,600. For 7-seater buses, the decrease finish may very well be about N55,000, with the higher finish reaching round N93,600 for bigger, extra snug autos the place departures run on schedule. For prime 15-seater corporations, fares are anticipated to vary between N54,000 and N67,600.
Components driving fare will increase
The sharp rise in fares in the course of the festive season is pushed primarily by the economics of demand and provide. With many individuals competing for a restricted variety of seats, transport corporations modify costs to stability excessive demand with the out there capability of autos, guaranteeing operations stay worthwhile.
Return journeys to Lagos from the South-East usually function beneath capability throughout this era. A park supervisor of a mid-level transportation firm at Iyana Ipaja informed Nairametrics,
“When buses return from the East, they usually carry only a few passengers. The excessive fares throughout this era assist offset the price of operating almost empty journeys.”
Operators throughout a number of parks confirmed this pattern.
Operational prices additional contribute to fare will increase. The new climate throughout December accelerates put on and tear on autos, notably tyres, which value round N40,000 every for second-hand replacements. A workers member of a transport firm at Ojota who selected to stay nameless mentioned, “We regularly have to switch a number of tyres in December due to the tough situations, and this provides to our bills.”
Gas is one other important issue. A 7-seater bus can’t full a Lagos–South-East journey on a single full tank of 130 litres and should refuel after leaving Lagos. Costs in cities east of Lagos usually exceed N1,000 per litre, in contrast with N880–N900 per litre in Lagos, including to operational prices.
Chibuike Amadi, a supervisor of a Jibowu-based transportation firm with a fleet of 7-seater autos, informed Nairametrics, “Refuelling after Lagos is unavoidable, and the upper gas costs within the East add to our prices, which is among the components contributing to greater fares throughout December.”
Alternate options to street transport to the South-East
Choices past street journey are restricted. There are presently no rail companies connecting Lagos to the 5 South-Japanese states — Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, and Enugu — leaving air journey as the primary various.
In the meantime, airfares this December have surged by 200% to over 300%, with tickets from Lagos to cities like Enugu, Owerri, and Aba exceeding N350,000. This spike, which happens each festive season, is pushed by late bookings and excessive demand. Airways additionally use a “bucket” pricing system, the place early patrons pay much less whereas costs rise as flights fill.
Structural components add to prices. With solely 0.02% of the inhabitants flying, Nigerian airways can’t obtain economies of scale. Restricted plane, a weak naira, excessive gas prices, and a number of aviation expenses additional push fares up.
Given this, street transport stays probably the most accessible and sensible possibility. Buses and smaller autos present inexpensive, versatile journey with scheduled departures and diverse consolation ranges, making them the spine of inter-state journeys from Lagos to the South-East.
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