The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that the average retail cost of a litre of petrol rose from N1,288.54 in March to N1,532.93 in April.
The agency disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April, issued in Abuja.
According to the report, the April figure of N1,532.93 reflects an 18.97 per cent rise compared to the N1,288.54 recorded in March.
The NBS further noted that, on a year-on-year basis, the average retail price of petrol climbed from N1,239.33 in April 2025 to N1,532.93 in April 2026, indicating a 23.69 per cent increase.
“On state profiles analysis, Yobe paid the highest average retail price of N1,599.05 per litre, followed by Edo at N1,595.74 and Bauchi at N1,589.07.
“Conversely, Niger paid the lowest average retail price of N1,403.89, followed by Sokoto at N1,404.16 and Katsina at N1,406.28,” it said.
Regional analysis showed that the South-South recorded the highest average petrol price in April at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest average at N1,508.81.
In its Diesel Price Watch Report for April 2026, the NBS also revealed that the average retail diesel price paid by consumers surged by 50.16 per cent month-on-month.
The report stated that diesel prices increased from N1,648.06 per litre in March to an average of N2,474.69 in April.
Year-on-year, diesel prices also rose by 43.67 per cent, moving from N1,722.45 per litre in April 2025 to N2,474.69 in April 2026.
Regarding state-level data, the NBS said Nasarawa recorded the highest average diesel price in April 2026 at N2,818.94 per litre, followed by Ebonyi at N2,754.06 and Taraba at N2,704.76.
“On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Kebbi at N2,180.28 per litre, followed by Kogi at N2,192.70 and Katsina at N2,269.14.
“In addition, the analysis by zone showed that the north-east has the highest price at N2,603 per litre, while the north-west zone recorded the lowest price at N2,409.34 per litre.”
Experts attribute the month-on-month rise in petrol and diesel prices largely to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. They note that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supply chains, resulting in a sharp increase in Brent crude oil prices.