Nigerians continued to grapple with soaring fuel prices in April, yet national petrol consumption recorded a significant increase, underscoring the country’s persistent dependence on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) despite mounting economic strain.
Fresh data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that average daily petrol consumption rose by 10.8 per cent to 52.4 million litres in April 2026, compared to 47.3 million litres per day in March.
The increase came amid a turbulent global oil market, worsened by the prolonged Middle East crisis involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which disrupted crude supply routes and pushed international oil prices above $106 per barrel.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, has compounded supply chain disruptions, forcing crude oil and petroleum shipments to take longer routes and increasing freight costs. This development has significantly affected countries like Nigeria that remain heavily reliant on imported petroleum products.
Although domestic refining capacity has improved with operations from the Dangote Refinery, industry stakeholders say local refineries are still battling crude supply shortages, limiting their ability to fully meet domestic demand.
As global crude prices climbed, petrol prices in Nigeria also surged sharply. The average pump price increased from N1,180 per litre in March to about N1,370 per litre in April, representing a 13.8 per cent rise.
Despite the higher cost burden on households and businesses, fuel consumption remained strong, reflecting the central role petrol continues to play in transportation, power generation and commercial activities across the country.
The NMDPRA report also indicated that combined supply volumes from local refining and fuel imports increased by 10.7 per cent, rising from 40.1 million litres daily in March to 44.4 million litres per day in April.
Economic analysts say the trend highlights both the resilience of fuel demand and the broader structural challenges facing Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly inadequate alternatives to petrol consumption.
With inflationary pressures already squeezing consumers, the latest figures suggest that many Nigerians are absorbing rising fuel costs out of necessity rather than choice, as petrol remains indispensable to daily living and economic survival.
Discover more from Rootedscope Media
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
