Despite security concerns, including fears of kidnapping along major highways, Nigerians travelling for the Yuletide, particularly to the South-East, are snapping up road transport tickets at sharply increased prices, findings have shown.
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Checks over the past few days revealed a rush for seats at major transport companies, even as fares climbed far above last year’s levels.
This comes against the backdrop of heightened insecurity on inter-state roads and economic pressures.
During the last Yuletide season, fares for 15-seater buses averaged about N32,000 before the festivities, rising to around N41,500 during the peak period in December 2024.
This year, however, transport costs have risen significantly higher.
A review of booking platforms for several transport companies over the week showed what could be described as an astronomical increase in fares.
Trips from Lagos to Enugu, Onitsha, Asaba, and other parts of the South-East and South-South now range between N58,000 and N73,000 for 15-seater buses, depending on distance.
Despite the steep costs, travellers were found purchasing tickets days ahead of Christmas.
As of Saturday, checks on the GUO Transport website showed that only one ticket remained on the second 15-seater bus scheduled to depart Lagos for Onitsha on Tuesday, with all seats on the first bus already sold out.
The fare for the route stood at N70,000 per passenger.
Similarly, a Sienna bus on the same Lagos–Onitsha route had only two seats left, despite a ticket price of N85,500.
The situation was no different for buses heading to Owerri on the same day, as all seats on the first bus had been taken, while only one seat remained on the second bus.
Tickets for the Sienna bus on the route, priced at N95,000 per passenger, were completely sold out.
For travellers heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, only six seats remained on each 15-seater bus scheduled for Monday, with tickets selling at N73,000 per head.
The same pattern was observed for buses bound for Benin, Edo State, where tickets were priced at N61,000.
On the Lagos–Asaba route from Iyana Ipaja, only one seat was available on the second bus scheduled to depart on Sunday, with the fare fixed at N70,000.
Similarly, only five seats remained on the first bus heading to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Monday, with tickets costing N73,000 each.
As of Friday, December 12, checks showed that only five seats were available on the first 15-seater bus heading to Aba on Saturday, also priced at N73,000 per ticket.
On the same day, no seats were available on a N64,000-per-ticket 15-seater bus scheduled to leave Ajah, Lagos, for Nnewi six days later.
A similar trend was observed on the website of Good Is Good Motors.
As of last Friday, over 80 per cent of tickets for an Owerri-bound bus scheduled to depart the following day had been sold at N50,000 per passenger.
Likewise, only two seats were available on buses heading to Asaba from Iyana Ipaja, priced at N37,250 per ticket.
The findings indicate that, despite rising fares and lingering security fears, many Nigerians remain determined to travel home for the festive season.
Speaking to our correspondent, an Igbo trader who sells motor spare parts in the Mushin area of Lagos, Okechukwu Eze, said Yuletide travelling was very important to most Nigerians of South-East extraction.
“We have to travel before Christmas, no matter the cost. This is because for many of us, who have worked hard since January, the Christmas period is when we see our friends and relatives in the village. It is the period we hold our annual traditional meetings. Some people even have funerals and other festivities to attend in their villages during the Christmas period. So, nothing can stop us,” he said.
Another Igbo trader in Lagos, who identified himself simply as Okafor, also said the importance of Yuletide travel to South-Easterners outweighs any cost.
He, however, appealed to transport companies to ensure adequate security on their buses to justify the high ticket prices.
“Travelling home during December is an important ritual for most people from our side. As we speak, I have also booked tickets for my family members and me. We are leaving on Tuesday. We just have to appeal to the transport companies to boost the security features of these buses,” Okafor said.
Efforts to get reactions from some of the transport companies, particularly GUO, proved abortive, as their mobile lines rang out with no response.
The astronomical increase in transport fares represents a significant burden on travellers, with some routes experiencing price increases of over 70% compared to last year’s peak period.
For instance, the Lagos-Onitsha route, which sold for around N41,500 during the peak of last year’s Yuletide season, now goes for N70,000—a 68% increase.
Similarly, the Lagos-Owerri route, which cost approximately N41,500 last year, now costs N95,000 for Sienna buses—a staggering 129% increase.
Despite the rush for tickets, security concerns remain a major worry for travellers, particularly on routes passing through kidnapping hotspots.
Several major highways connecting Lagos to the South-East and South-South have witnessed incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery in recent months, raising fears among travellers.
However, the findings suggest that these concerns have not significantly dampened the determination of Nigerians, particularly those of South-East extraction, to return home for the festive season.
The sharp increase in transport fares reflects broader economic pressures facing Nigerians, including rising fuel costs, inflation, and the general increase in the cost of living.
Transport operators have consistently cited rising operational costs, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and security expenses, as justification for fare increases.
However, the willingness of travellers to pay the increased fares despite economic hardship underscores the cultural and social importance of the Yuletide season, particularly for Nigerians traveling to the South-East.
As the Christmas season approaches, transport companies are expected to deploy additional buses to meet the high demand, though it remains unclear whether this will result in any moderation of the current fare levels.
For now, Nigerians appear resigned to paying the premium prices, driven by the strong desire to reunite with family and friends and participate in traditional year-end activities in their hometowns.
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