Petrol Sh*ck: Prices Surge To ₦1,150 per Litre Amid NNPCL And Marketer Hikes

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has raised the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) for the second time in less than 24 hours, following a recent gantry price increase by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Inspections on Sunday revealed that NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja and neighboring areas adjusted the pump price from ₦967 to ₦1,082 per litre, marking a ₦115 jump. This came shortly after an earlier increase from ₦960 to ₦967 per litre.

Within less than a week, NNPCL outlets have raised petrol prices by a total of ₦207 per litre, highlighting mounting pressure in the downstream petroleum market. The revised prices were seen at NNPCL stations along Kubwa Expressway, Gwarimpa, Wuse Zones 4 and 6, and Lifecamp in Abuja.

The latest surge has deepened concerns among motorists and consumers already struggling with high fuel costs nationwide. Independent marketers have also followed suit, increasing pump prices in response to the refinery’s adjustments.

Filling stations including MRS Oil Nigeria, AA Rano, and Empire Energy have reportedly raised prices at least twice, with petrol now selling between ₦1,092 and ₦1,150 per litre—up from the previous ₦960–₦980 range.

The adjustments were driven by Dangote Refinery’s recent gantry price hike, which raised the ex-depot petrol price by ₦121, from ₦874 to ₦995 per litre, as international crude oil surged above $90 per barrel. Industry analysts note that such gantry price changes typically ripple through retail markets as marketers adjust to higher replacement costs.

Reacting to the development, Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, attributed the increase to global crude oil volatility, driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

“The Dangote Refinery’s gantry price hike and subsequent retail adjustments are a direct result of crude price fluctuations caused by the Iran–US–Israel conflict in the Gulf region,” he said, urging Nigerian regulators to act swiftly to stabilise the market and curb further petrol price volatility.