Nigerians faced a fresh wave of energy cost increases in April 2026, with the average retail prices of petrol and cooking gas recording significant jumps across the country, according to the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The increases come at a time when households and businesses are already grappling with persistent inflation, rising transportation expenses, and higher food prices, further straining disposable incomes and purchasing power.
According to the NBS Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch report for April 2026, the average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, climbed to ₦1,532.93 per litre.
The figure represents a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the ₦1,239.33 recorded in April 2025. On a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose even more sharply, increasing by 18.97 per cent from ₦1,288.54 per litre in March 2026.
The latest data highlights the continued volatility in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, with consumers across the country paying considerably more to fuel vehicles, power generators, and support daily economic activities.
Yobe, Edo, Bauchi Record Highest Petrol Prices
A breakdown of the report shows significant variations in petrol prices across states.
Yobe recorded the highest average retail price at ₦1,599.05 per litre, followed closely by Edo at ₦1,595.74 and Bauchi at ₦1,589.07.
On the other hand, motorists in Niger paid the lowest average price of ₦1,403.89 per litre. This was followed by Sokoto at ₦1,404.16 and Katsina at ₦1,406.28.
At the regional level, Nigeria's South-South zone posted the highest average petrol price at ₦1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West recorded the lowest zonal average at ₦1,508.81.
Cooking Gas Prices Also Rise Sharply
The pressure on household budgets was not limited to petrol, as prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, also recorded notable increases.
The NBS reported that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cooking gas cylinder rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month, reaching ₦8,706.93 in April 2026 compared to ₦7,655.73 in March.
Year-on-year, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from ₦7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos Tops 5kg Cylinder Refill Prices
Among the states, Lagos recorded the highest average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder at ₦9,745.10.
It was followed by Nasarawa at ₦9,451.70 and Bayelsa at ₦9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra residents paid the lowest average price of ₦7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun recorded ₦7,239.49 and ₦7,825.75 respectively.
The North-West region recorded the highest average 5kg refill price at ₦9,025.07, while the South-East had the lowest average at ₦8,224.37.
12.5kg Cooking Gas Cylinder Exceeds ₦22,000
The NBS data further revealed that the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas cylinder increased to ₦22,382.20 in April 2026, representing a 13.89 per cent rise from ₦19,652.83 recorded the previous month.
Compared to April 2025, when the average price stood at ₦20,268.06, the latest figure reflects a 10.43 per cent annual increase.
State-by-state analysis showed that Katsina recorded the highest average refill price at ₦25,596.71, followed by Kogi at ₦24,558.25 and Gombe at ₦24,438.97.
Meanwhile, Ogun offered the lowest average refill price at ₦19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at ₦20,178.87 and ₦20,511.90 respectively.
At the zonal level, the North-West recorded the highest average price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at ₦23,276.95. The North-Central followed at ₦22,865.29, while the South-East remained the least expensive region with an average price of ₦21,060.92.
Growing Pressure on Households
The latest NBS figures underscore the rising cost of energy products across Nigeria, with both transportation fuel and household cooking gas becoming increasingly expensive. For many households, the increases are likely to deepen cost-of-living challenges, particularly as wages struggle to keep pace with inflation and the rising prices of essential goods and services.
Analysts say the continued rise in fuel and cooking gas prices could have broader implications for transportation costs, food distribution, small businesses, and overall inflation in the months ahead.