The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, rose by 23.69 percent year-on-year to ₦1,532.93 in April 2026, compared to ₦1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).Â
According to the Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch (April 2026) report released by the statistical agency, month-on-month, petrol prices increased by 18.97% from ₦1,288.54 in March 2026.
The increase in petrol price came amid persistent inflationary concerns and rising transportation and food costs that have continued to erode consumers’ purchasing power nationwide.
According to the report, state-by-state analysis showed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at ₦1,599.05 per litre during the review period. Edo and Bauchi followed, with average prices of ₦1,595.74 and ₦1,589.07 respectively.
However, Niger recorded the lowest average retail price, at ₦1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina posted ₦1,404.16 and ₦1,406.28 respectively.
At zonal level, South-South had the highest average retail price of ₦1,566.76, while North-West had the lowest price of ₦1,508.81.
Similarly, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 percent month-on-month to ₦22,382.20 in April 2026 from ₦19,652.83 in March 2026. According to the LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder, at ₦25,596.71, followed by Kogi at ₦24,558.25 and Gombe at ₦24,438.97.
On the other hand, Ogun recorded the lowest average price at ₦19,564.36, followed by Bauchi and Anambra at ₦20,178.87 and ₦20,511.90 respectively. At the zonal level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder, at ₦23,276.95; followed by the North-Central, at N22,865.29, while the South-East recorded the lowest average price at ₦21,060.92, the NBS stated.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at ₦9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at ₦9,451.70 and Bayelsa at ₦9,422.74. On the other hand, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at ₦7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with ₦7,239.49 and ₦7,825.75 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at ₦9,025.07, followed by the North-east at ₦8,847.16, while the South-East recorded the lowest average price, at ₦8,224.37.
