The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a sharp rise in the average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), which increased from N1,288.54 in March to N1,532.93 in April.
This is contained in the bureau’s 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 previous month.
It further showed that on a year-on-year basis, the average pump price rose from N1,239.33 in April 2025 to N1,532.93 in April 2026, marking a 23.69 per cent increase.
A breakdown by state indicated that Yobe recorded the highest average price at N1,599.05 per litre, followed by Edo at N1,595.74 and Bauchi at N1,589.07.
On the lower end, Niger State recorded N1,403.89 per litre, followed by Sokoto at N1,404.16 and Katsina at N1,406.28.
Regional analysis showed that the South-South posted the highest average petrol price at N1,566.76, while the North-West recorded the lowest at N1,508.81.
The NBS also revealed that diesel prices recorded a significant jump in April 2026, rising by 50.16 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N1,648.06 in March to N2,474.69 in April.
Year-on-year figures also showed an increase of 43.67 per cent compared to N1,722.45 recorded in April 2025.
State-level data showed Nasarawa recorded the highest diesel price at N2,818.94 per litre, followed by Ebonyi at N2,754.06 and Taraba at N2,704.76.
Conversely, the lowest prices were recorded in Kebbi at N2,180.28, Kogi at N2,192.70 and Katsina at N2,269.14.
By zone, the North-East recorded the highest diesel price at N2,603 per litre, while the North-West recorded the lowest at N2,409.34.
Energy analysts attributed the sustained rise in fuel prices to global supply disruptions and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly issues affecting the Strait of Hormuz, which have pushed up crude oil prices internationally.