The National Bureau of Statistics says the average retail price of a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) increased from N1,288.54 in March to N1,532.93 in April 2026.
The bureau disclosed this in its Petrol Price Watch for April released in Abuja.
According to the report, the April figure represents an 18.97 per cent increase compared to the N1,288.54 recorded in March.
The NBS also said the average retail price of petrol rose on a year-on-year basis 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,” the report stated.
Regional analysis showed that the South-South recorded the highest average retail price in April at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West recorded the lowest at N1,508.81.
In its Diesel Price Watch Report for April 2026, the NBS said the average retail price of diesel increased by 50.16 per cent month-on-month.
The report stated that the average diesel price rose from N1,648.06 per litre in March to N2,474.69 in April.
On a year-on-year basis, diesel prices also increased by 43.67 per cent from N1,722.45 per litre recorded in April 2025 to N2,474.69 in April 2026.
According to the report, Nasarawa recorded the highest average diesel price in April at N2,818.94 per litre, followed by Ebonyi at N2,754.06 and Taraba at N2,704.76.
Kebbi recorded the lowest diesel price at N2,180.28 per litre, followed by Kogi at N2,192.70 and Katsina at N2,269.14.
The NBS added that the North-East recorded the highest zonal diesel price at N2,603 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N2,409.34.
Experts attributed the sharp month-on-month increase in petrol and diesel prices to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has driven global crude oil prices higher.
