By Bayo King

Cost of living of living in Nigeria is on the rise thereby putting pressure on families and households. Latest report for May 2020 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows disparities in varying states in cost of living but on the average, the intensity in states with higher cost of living far outweigh those with marginal decrease in various categories mentioned.

In transport fares, average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity increased by 1.35% month-on-month and by 13.94% year-on-year to N1, 803.59 in May 2020 from N1, 779.51 in April 2020. States with highest bus journey fare intercity were Abuja FCT (N4, 150.00), Adamawa (N2, 654.00) and Borno (N2, 640.00) while States with lowest bus journey fare within city were Enugu (N1, 150.00), Bauchi (N1, 215.00) and Bayelsa (N1, 220.00).

Average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey was flat month-on-month and increased by 0.35% year-on-year to N30, 743.65 in May 2020 from N30, 743.65 in April 2020. States with highest air fare were Jigawa (N35, 400.00), Rivers (N35, 000.00), Abuja FCT (N34, 000.00) while States with lowest air fare were Sokoto (N22, 500.00), Katsina (N25, 000.00), and Kano (N25, 500.00).

Average fare paid by commuters for bus journey within the city decreased by -0.56% month-on-month and increased by 26.19% year-on-year to N222.46 in April 2020 from N223.71 in 2020. States with bus journey fare within city were Zamfara (N435.00), Abuja FCT (N338.00) and Cross River (N320.00) while States with lowest bus journey fare within city were Bauchi (N130.00), Kebbi (N150.00) and Rivers (N157.00).

Average fare paid by commuters for journey by motorcycle per drop increased by 2.62% month-on-month and by 20.06% year-on-year to N152.11 in May 2020 from N148.00 in April 2020. States with highest journey fare by motorcycle per drop were Rivers (N255.00), Lagos (N242.00) and Kogi (N240.00) while states with lowest journey fare by motorcycle per drop were Katsina (N73.00), Adamawa (N75.00) and Kebbi (N82.00). Average fare paid by passengers for water way passenger transport increased by 0.88% month-on-month and by 12.26% year-on-year to N611.92 in May 2020 from N606.59 in April 2020. States with highest fare by water way passenger transport were Delta (N1, 980.00), Bayelsa (N1, 920.00) and Rivers (N1, 840.00).

For cooking gas, average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) decreased by -0.59% month-on-month and by -1.98% year-on-years to N4, 136.87 in May 2020 from N4, 161.54 in April 2020. States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) were Cross River (N4,585.71), Akwa Ibom (N4,546.95) and Bayelsa (N4,545.45). States with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) were Oyo (N3, 804.14), Kano (N3,3811.17) and Katsina (N3,824.35). States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) were Bauchi (N2, 484.33), Adamawa (N2,399.97) and Borno (N2,387.67).

States with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) were Enugu (N1, 600.00), Imo (N1, 620.00) and Jigawa (N1, 660.00).Average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) increased by 0.39% month-on-month and decreased by -3.11% year-on-year to N1, 965.03 in May 2020 from N1957.32 in April 2020. Selected food price watch data for May 2020 reflected that the average price of 1 dozen of Agric eggs medium size decreased year-on-year by -0.52% and month-on month by -2.99% to N462.46 in May 2020from N476.72 in April 2020 while the average price of piece of Agric eggs medium size (price of one) decreased year-on-year by -4.63% and month-on-month by -1.68% to N40.84 in May 2020 from N41.5 in April 2020. The average price of 1kg of tomato increased year-on-year by 11.51% and month-on-month by 0.44% to N278.23 in May 2020 from N277 in April 2020.

The average price of 1kg of rice (imported high quality sold loose) increased year-on-year by 28.18% and decreased month-on-month by -1.83% to N463.21 in May 2020 from N471.84 in April 2020. Similarly, the average price of 1kg of yam tuber increased year-on-year by 9.66% and month on month by2.96% to N236.90 in May 2020 from N230.09 in April 2020.

Picture: Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed