Nigeria’s inflationary pressure on transport fuels intensified further in April 2026 as the average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) surged to N1,532.93 per litre nationwide.
This is according to the latest Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report stated that the average price of petrol rose significantly on both a monthly and yearly basis, reflecting sustained pressure in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market following deregulation reforms.
The development highlights persistent energy cost pressures that continue to drive transportation, logistics, and production costs higher across the country.
What the data is saying
The NBS data shows a broad-based increase in petrol prices across states and geopolitical zones.
- Average petrol price rose by 18.97% month-on-month in April 2026.
- Year-on-year, petrol price increased by 23.69% from N1,239.33 recorded in April 2025.
- The average retail price increased from N1,288.54 in March 2026 to N1,532.93 in April 2026.
- On a state-by-state basis, petrol prices showed significant variation across the country.
- Yobe recorded the highest average retail price at N1,599.05 per litre, followed by Edo at N1,595.74 and Bauchi at N1,589.07.
Conversely, Niger recorded the lowest average retail price at N1,403.89 per litre, followed by Sokoto at N1,404.16 and Katsina at N1,406.28.
Regional patterns and market pressures
The report highlights continued regional disparities in petrol pricing, reflecting differences in supply chain efficiency, transportation costs, infrastructure, and proximity to supply depots across the country.
- By geopolitical zone, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West recorded the lowest average price at N1,508.81 per litre.
- Fuel pricing in Nigeria continues to be shaped by the effects of deregulation, foreign exchange pressures, distribution costs, and market-driven pricing mechanisms within the downstream petroleum sector.
The wide gap between state and zonal averages also reflects ongoing infrastructure constraints, uneven distribution networks, and varying levels of competition among fuel marketers nationwide.
What you should know
A recent Nairametrics survey of major retailers and independent marketers across Nigeria showed that cooking gas and petrol prices remained elevated between April and May 2026, highlighting persistent energy cost pressures on households and businesses nationwide.
- The survey, conducted as of May 23, 2026, revealed that cooking gas prices in Lagos increased from around N1,300–N1,400 per kilogram in April to between N1,350 and N1,500 per kilogram in May, while petrol prices ranged between N1,200 and N1,350 per litre.
- In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa, LPG prices rose to as high as N1,500 per kilogram in May, while petrol prices climbed to between N1,350 and N1,444 per litre at standard filling stations.
- Kaduna and Rivers states recorded some of the widest price variations for both LPG and petrol, largely due to supply constraints and rising logistics costs. Kaduna, in particular, remained among the states with some of the highest cooking gas prices nationwide.
Nairametrics observed that in April 2026, a 5kg cooking gas refill in Kaduna averaged N9,212, while a 12.5kg cylinder refill cost approximately N23,030. Retail LPG refills in the state averaged between N1,300 and N1,500 per kilogram.
The findings underscore the continued impact of supply chain disruptions, transportation expenses, and market-driven pricing on energy costs across Nigeria.
