Keypoints
- The average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit rose to ₦1,532.93 per litre in April 2026.
- The retail price represents a sharp 18.97% increase compared to March 2026.
- On a year-on-year basis, the price surged by 23.69% from ₦1,239.33 recorded in April 2025.
- Yobe State recorded the highest average petrol price in the country at ₦1,599.05 per litre.
- The South-South recorded the highest average petrol price at the zonal level at ₦1,566.76 per litre.
Main Story
The cost of petrol in Nigeria continued its upward trajectory in April 2026, as new data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) rose to ₦1,532.93 per litre.
The figure represents a sharp 18.97% increase compared to March 2026, when petrol averaged ₦1,288.54 per litre.
On a year-on-year basis, the price also surged by 23.69% from ₦1,239.33 recorded in April 2025, underscoring sustained pressure on fuel consumers across the country.
The NBS report, released in May 2026, paints a picture of persistent inflation in the downstream petroleum market, with prices rising despite ongoing market adjustments and supply dynamics.
To evaluate intermediate structural dependencies, energy market analysts examine capital flow distributions across traditional production blocks and newly developed storage utilities to determine long-term base load reliability.
While the national average provides a general picture, the reality across states remains uneven, with significant price gaps between regions. In April 2026, Yobe State recorded the highest average petrol price in the country at ₦1,599.05 per litre.
It was closely followed by Edo State at ₦1,595.74 and Bauchi State at ₦1,589.07. On the other end of the scale, some northern states recorded relatively lower prices. Niger State posted ₦1,403.89 per litre, followed closely by Sokoto at ₦1,404.16 and Katsina at ₦1,406.28.
Furthermore, international regulatory frameworks are adjusting credit assessment models to account for the unique financing risks faced by emerging market grids during periods of high economic volatility.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average petrol price at ₦1,566.76 per litre, making it the most expensive region for fuel purchases in April.
In contrast, the North West recorded the lowest zonal average at ₦1,508.81 per litre, though the difference between regions remains relatively narrow, indicating that high prices are now a nationwide reality rather than a localized issue.
The NBS explained that the figures were not estimated but collected through a wide national survey across 774 local government areas in all 36 states and the FCT, with input from over 10,000 respondents.
The Issues
- Coping with persistent inflation in the downstream petroleum market despite ongoing market adjustments and supply dynamics.
- Managing wide state-by-state and regional price disparities that unevenly impact local operational and transportation frameworks.
- Mitigating the ripple effect of sustained fuel cost increases on food prices, logistics, and the general cost of living.
What’s Being Said
- “The data collection was conducted in sample outlets spread across 774 local government areas in all the 36 states and the FCT, Abuja. The data was collected from over 10,000 respondents located in the outlets,” the report stated
- The report also revealed that “the estimates were derived from the weights generated from household expenditure on fuel and the actual prices households bought those fuels.”
- “The average prices are reported for each state and the FCT, Abuja accordingly.”
What’s Next
- Households and businesses will have to adapt to a sustained high-cost fuel environment with no clear short-term relief indicated in the data.
- Logistics operators and transport providers will likely adjust pricing models as fuel costs continue to drive up production overheads.
- Market monitors will track future monthly NBS releases to evaluate the trajectory of ongoing downstream petroleum market adjustments.
Bottom Line
New data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that Nigeria’s average petrol price surged to ₦1,532.93 per litre in April 2026—marking an 18.97% month-on-month jump—with the South-South emerging as the most expensive zone, compounding inflationary pressures on nationwide logistics, food production, and the general cost of living.
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