Fuel Hike Crisis: Nigerians Struggle as Price Hits ₦1,588 in Imo

Fuel Hike Crisis: Nigerians Struggle as Price Hits ₦1,588 in Imo

Fuel hike continues to choke Nigerian households and businesses, as fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that the average petrol price has surged to ₦1,239.33 per litre in April 2025.

This price marks a troubling 76.73% increase compared to the same month last year. The NBS report shows that despite a slight 1.77% price drop from March, the pain at the pump remains widespread and uneven across the country.

Imo State tops the chart with petrol selling for a heartbreaking ₦1,588.50 per litre—more than double the average salary of many Nigerians. Jigawa follows with ₦1,567.84, and Sokoto trails at ₦1,550. In stark contrast, Yobe offers the cheapest relief at ₦970, followed by Kwara at ₦1,014.85 and Osun at ₦1,042.49.

For Lagos residents, the struggle feels slightly lighter, with reports indicating an average of ₦880 per litre. Abuja’s residents are also seeing a reduced rate of about ₦935 per litre at some retail stations. But across the country, many are still reeling from the high cost of living driven by this fuel hike.

A breakdown of zonal averages reveals the burden’s uneven weight. The South East zone pays the most, with an average of ₦1,341.71 per litre. The North West trails close at ₦1,325.90. The North Central comes in at ₦1,242.94, while the South West, though cheaper, still faces an average of ₦1,138.64.

Despite efforts by major industry players to cut depot prices—such as Dangote Refinery slashing its ex-depot price to ₦835—consumers say they’ve yet to feel the impact. In mid-April, Dangote further reduced its Lagos and Abuja supplies to ₦890 per litre, down from ₦920. But the savings haven’t trickled down to everyday buyers.

Across petrol stations, pump prices stayed between ₦870 and ₦920 per litre through April. Many Nigerians now rely on location-based apps and word-of-mouth to hunt for slightly cheaper options.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also raised red flags. In its April 2025 Inflation Expectation Survey, it found that 91% of Nigerians blame energy costs, including petrol, for driving inflation. Other culprits include poor exchange rates, rising transport costs, high interest rates, and growing security concerns.

For those running small businesses, fuel costs are becoming unbearable. Umar, a bakery owner in Nasarawa, shared his struggle. “We used to spend ₦40,000 a week on petrol. Now, it’s nearly ₦90,000. We’ve increased bread prices twice, and customers are angry.”

Mothers like Grace, who lives in Owerri, say transportation costs are now eating into food budgets. “It’s ₦400 to take my children to school every day. That’s over ₦8,000 a month—just for school runs,” she said with a tired sigh.

The crisis is also shifting how petrol enters the country. According to recent investigations, marketers spent about ₦120 billion importing petrol from Lome Port in Togo between January and April 2025. This switch helps avoid Nigerian taxes and lets importers pay in U.S. dollars, which many say offers more stable pricing for now.

Importers moved 3.51 million tonnes of petrol through Lome during this four-month stretch. In January alone, 23,600 tonnes arrived daily. That rose to 35,485 in February, then dipped to 29,602 in March. By April, it plummeted to just 939 tonnes per day, showing signs of supply pressure.

Even as the government pushes for local refineries and naira-based deals, the dollar remains king in fuel imports. For many, it raises fears that unless drastic reforms happen fast, the fuel hike could climb even higher.

Daily commuters, like Kelechi in Enugu, are now choosing to walk. “I can’t keep paying ₦300 for a short bus ride. I walk to work and back now—almost two hours every day,” he said.

The road ahead looks hard. If energy prices stay high, inflation will only worsen. Already, traders are raising prices, transporters are charging more, and schools are warning parents of upcoming fee increases due to fuel bills.

But hope isn’t completely lost. Stakeholders are calling for emergency intervention. Some suggest tax reliefs for fuel importers, fast-tracking the Dangote Refinery’s retail supply, and enforcing a transparent pricing system to close the wide gap between depot and pump prices.

For now, Nigerians brace themselves daily for the rising cost of living. The dream of affordable fuel feels farther away than ever, even as the country stands on the edge of economic hardship powered by this relentless fuel hike.