Nigeria's petrol price surges 18.97% in April to ₦1,532.93 per litre

Nigeria's fuel costs continued to climb in April 2026, with the average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) seeing a substantial increase. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that petrol prices rose by 18.97% on a month-on-month basis.

In April, consumers paid an average of ₦1,532.93 per litre for petrol, a notable jump from the ₦1,288.54 recorded in March. This upward trend is also evident when comparing prices year-on-year. The average retail price in April 2026 was 23.69% higher than the ₦1,239.33 recorded in April 2025.

The NBS report highlighted significant price variations across different states. Yobe recorded the highest average petrol price at ₦1,599.05 per litre, followed closely by Edo and Bauchi. Conversely, Niger registered the lowest average price at ₦1,403.89 per litre, with Sokoto and Katsina also showing lower rates. Regionally, the South-South zone experienced the highest average petrol price, while the North-West had the lowest.

In parallel, the price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) also surged. The average retail price for diesel increased by 50.16% from March to April 2026, reaching ₦2,474.69 per litre. Year-on-year, diesel prices saw a 43.67% increase from April 2025. Nasarawa state reported the highest average diesel price, while Kebbi had the lowest.