Diesel Surges 32 Percent In One Month As Pump Price Hits ₦3,277/Litre Nationwide

June 24 () — The average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) climbed to ₦3,277.47 per litre in May 2026, representing a sharp 32.44 percent increase within one month and an 86.40 percent rise year-on-year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The latest figure marks an increase of ₦802.78 per litre from the ₦2,474.69 recorded in April, underscoring mounting energy costs for manufacturers, transporters and businesses that rely heavily on diesel-powered operations.

Compared with May 2025, when diesel sold for an average of ₦1,758.26 per litre, consumers are now paying an additional ₦1,519.21 per litre, highlighting the persistent pressure on operating and logistics costs across the economy.

A breakdown of state-level data showed that Nasarawa recorded the highest average diesel price in the country at ₦3,785.84 per litre, followed by Plateau at ₦3,576.40 and Ebonyi at ₦3,574.75.

In contrast, Kogi posted the lowest average price at ₦2,823.85 per litre, while Benue and Kebbi recorded ₦2,961.33 and ₦3,016.14 respectively.

Regional analysis showed that the North-West remained the most expensive zone for diesel purchases, with an average price of ₦3,313.60 per litre, followed by the North-East at ₦3,289.74. The South-West recorded the lowest zonal average at ₦3,227.55 per litre.

The data also revealed triple-digit annual increases in several states. Ebonyi recorded a 133.08 percent year-on-year increase, while Borno and Taraba posted increases of 123.00 percent and 108.54 percent, respectively.

The sharp rise in diesel prices is expected to intensify cost pressures across transportation, manufacturing and other energy-dependent sectors, potentially feeding into broader inflationary trends in the coming months.