Petrol, Diesel Prices Rise Slightly In February – NBS
The average pump price of petrol in Nigeria rose slightly in February 2026, even as diesel also recorded a monthly increase, according to fresh data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday.
In its latest Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch, the NBS said Nigerians paid an average of N1,051.47 per litre for petrol in February, up from N1,034.76 in January. That represents a 1.62 per cent month-on-month increase. The bureau, however, said the figure was lower than the N1,245.80 average recorded in February 2025, indicating a 15.60 per cent year-on-year decline.
A breakdown by states showed that Yobe recorded the highest average petrol price at N1,134.73 per litre, followed by Sokoto at N1,116.81 and Akwa Ibom at N1,109.44. At the lower end, Lagos posted the cheapest average price at N966.61, followed by Oyo at N973.45 and Kaduna at N1,000.07.
Regional analysis also showed sharp differences in pump prices. The North-East recorded the highest zonal average for petrol at N1,084.41 per litre, while the South-West had the lowest at N1,023.89.
The NBS also reported an increase in diesel prices in its Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) Price Watch for February. Consumers paid an average of N1,420.17 per litre, compared with N1,361.57 in January, reflecting a 4.30 per cent month-on-month rise. On a year-on-year basis, however, diesel was cheaper than the N1,501.05 per litre average recorded in February 2025, translating to a 5.39 per cent decline.
State-by-state figures showed that Lagos recorded the highest diesel price at N1,625.11 per litre, followed by Borno at N1,616.25 and Akwa Ibom at N1,587.19. The lowest average prices were recorded in Ogun at N1,183.31, Kogi at N1,220.00, and Anambra at N1,256.76.
By zone, the North-East again posted the highest diesel average at N1,496.49 per litre, while the North-Central recorded the lowest at N1,382.17.
The latest NBS figures underline the continuing regional disparities in fuel costs across the country, at a time when Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market remains largely price-sensitive under deregulation. The NBS says its fuel price watches are compiled from household and outlet price data collected across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.