Nigerians have taken to social media to vent frustration over the skyrocketing cost of domestic air travel after a viral post revealed that a one-way Air Peace flight from Lagos to Owerri now costs ₦352,000 — up from ₦53,000 during Muhammadu Buhari’s final days in office.
The post, shared by user @Harmless12345 on X, criticised Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as “progressive retrogression” in the economy, saying that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed to deliver on its promises of a better standard of living.
“From Lagos to Owerri — N352k. Meanwhile, this same flight was actually N53k at the time of Buhari’s last day in office. This is what we call progressive retrogression, but Obidients will never understand,” he wrote, attaching a screenshot of Air Peace’s current fare listing.
The post immediately drew thousands of reactions, with many Nigerians lamenting that the country’s cost-of-living crisis had reached new extremes under Tinubu’s leadership.
Responding to the viral post, X user @thatMrT mocked the ruling party’s slogan of progressivism, saying, “Chai. Where’s Indaboki? Pogessrive wetin? What is progressive petrogession? What’s the difference between 53 and 352? If you put 3 behind 53, is it not an N1 difference?”
Another user, @kish_kizzy, wrote, “Travelling within Nigeria is more expensive than travelling within Europe,” while @urbanspirit09 lamented, “During Buhari’s regime I entered Owerri to Lagos bound flights over 10 times; since Tinubu only twice and suddenly don’t have the urge to travel.”
Many commenters said the situation showed how Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” slogan had turned into despair for ordinary citizens.
“Renewed Hope! What do you expect? Nigerians have always been hoping; that’s why they want to keep renewing their hopes,” wrote @BodmahnHOT.
Some users also accused the APC of hypocrisy, questioning how a party that calls itself progressive could preside over worsening poverty and record inflation.
“How the APC call themselves progressive is something that no educational institution will be able to explain,” wrote @diiphillipo.
READ MORE: Niger Snubs Tinubu, Imposes Airspace Restrictions on Nigeria Flights
Critics argued that the sharp rise in airfares reflected deeper economic instability caused by Tinubu’s controversial fiscal policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, which has led to massive inflation and a weakened currency.
“By road, bandits. By air, no funds,” wrote @_Vicode, summing up the dilemma many travellers now face.
The outrage follows a series of complaints from Nigerians about surging prices in nearly all sectors — from food and transport to rent and utilities — with many calling on the government to address what they describe as an “economic emergency”.
Economists have also warned that the skyrocketing airfares could cripple domestic tourism and regional business travel, further isolating parts of the country and worsening inequality.
For now, many Nigerians online say they have only one option left — to stop travelling altogether.
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