Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest report disclosed that the average retail price of Household Kerosene (HHK) declined marginally in May 2026, even as petrol and diesel prices recorded significant increases across the country.
According to the report, the average retail price of kerosene stood at ₦2,971.94 per litre in May 2026, representing a slight decrease of 0.17 per cent from ₦2,976.94 recorded in April 2026.
However, on a year-on-year basis, the price rose sharply by 36.62 per cent from ₦2,175.29 in May 2025.
State-by-state analysis showed that Sokoto recorded the highest average kerosene price at ₦3,984.09 per litre, followed by Jigawa at ₦3,824.68 and Taraba at ₦3,595.64.
Bayelsa posted the lowest average price at ₦2,018.79 per litre, while Kogi and Ekiti followed at ₦2,348.81 and ₦2,511.31, respectively.
Across geopolitical zones, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price of kerosene at ₦3,343.12 per litre, followed by the North-East at ₦3,004.30, while the South-South had the lowest average price at ₦2,777.76.
The average retail price of kerosene per gallon also fell by 10.80 per cent month-on-month to ₦11,949.39 in May from ₦13,396.23 in April. Nevertheless, the figure was 40.88 per cent higher than the ₦8,482.22 recorded in May 2025.
Sokoto again topped the chart for the highest kerosene price per gallon at ₦15,928.39, followed by Kebbi at ₦15,855.73 and Niger at ₦14,465.43. Bayelsa recorded the lowest price at ₦7,084.56, while Ekiti and Kwara followed with ₦9,300.92 and ₦9,419.85, respectively.
Meanwhile, the average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, rose to ₦1,596.25 per litre in May 2026. This represents a 55.31 per cent increase compared to ₦1,027.76 in May 2025 and a 4.13 per cent rise from ₦1,532.93 recorded in April 2026.
Edo State recorded the highest average petrol price at ₦1,722.91 per litre, followed by Bauchi at ₦1,715.47 and Benue at ₦1,698.57. The lowest prices were recorded in Adamawa, Katsina, and Sokoto states at ₦1,469.83, ₦1,470.63 and ₦1,489.33, respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average petrol price at ₦1,623.84 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest average price at ₦1,564.11.
Diesel prices recorded the sharpest increase among the major petroleum products. According to NBS, the average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, rose by 86.40 per cent year-on-year to ₦3,277.47 per litre in May 2026, compared to ₦1,758.26 in the corresponding period of 2025.
On a month-on-month basis, diesel prices jumped by 32.44 per cent from ₦2,474.69 per litre in April 2026.
Nasarawa State recorded the highest average diesel price at ₦3,785.84 per litre, followed by Plateau at ₦3,576.40 and Ebonyi at ₦3,574.75. Kogi posted the lowest diesel price at ₦2,823.85 per litre, while Benue and Kebbi followed at ₦2,961.33 and ₦3,016.14 respectively.
Zonal analysis showed that the North-West recorded the highest average diesel price at ₦3,313.60 per litre, while the South-West had the lowest average price at ₦3,227.55.
The latest NBS figures highlight continued pressure on household and transportation energy costs despite the slight month-on-month decline in kerosene prices.
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