Okada Fare Hits N1,035 in April as South-West Commuters Pay Most
By Aboki Forex —
The average fare for motorcycle transport, popularly known as Okada, rose to N1,035.69 in April 2026. This represents a 3.12% increase from N1,004.34 recorded in March 2026, according to the latest transport fare watch report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
On a year-on-year basis, the fare surged by 56.20% from N663.06 in April 2025. The data shows sustained pressure on intra-city travel costs for millions of Nigerians who rely on Okada for daily commuting.
Kaduna State recorded the highest average Okada fare in April at N1,690.91. Lagos followed closely at N1,590.87, while Abia came third at N1,560.45. Other states with high fares include Yobe (N1,396.76), Ogun (N1,334.60), and Rivers (N1,250.83).
At the lower end, Adamawa recorded the cheapest fare at N730.24. Akwa Ibom followed at N740.88, and Kebbi at N769.45. Sokoto, Anambra, and Edo also reported fares below N850.
Regionally, commuters in the South-West paid the highest average Okada fare at N1,145.77. The South-East came second at N1,084.10. The North-Central recorded the lowest regional average at N963.01.
Nigeria Spent N146 Billion on Motorcycle Imports Despite Local Plants
Despite several motorcycle assembly plants operating in Nigeria, the country spent N146.11 billion on motorcycle imports in the period under review. The NBS report noted that the bulk of these imports were motorcycles and cycles fitted with auxiliary motors, petrol fuel, capacity over 50cc but under 250cc, shipped in completely knocked down (CKD) kits from India.
This spending comes even as many state governments have banned the use of Okada for commercial purposes due to security and safety concerns.
In a related development, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) reported a decline in passenger revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025. Revenue dropped 16.3% to N1.6 billion from N1.92 billion in the same period of 2024. The number of rail passengers also fell by 9.32% to 940,476.