NBS: Kerosene price dips as diesel, petrol costs rise

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

The average retail price of household kerosene declined marginally in May 2026, while the prices of diesel and petrol recorded significant increases, according to the latest energy price data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The NBS said the average retail price of household kerosene fell by 0.17 per cent month-on-month to N2,971.94 per litre in May from N2,976.94 in April. However, the product remained significantly more expensive than a year earlier, rising by 36.62 per cent from N2,175.29 recorded in May 2025.

A state-by-state analysis showed that Sokoto recorded the highest average kerosene price at N3,984.09 per litre, followed by Jigawa at N3,824.68 and Taraba at N3,595.64. Bayelsa posted the lowest price at N2,018.79, while Kogi and Ekiti recorded N2,348.81 and N2,511.31 respectively.

Across the geopolitical zones, the North-West had the highest average kerosene price at N3,343.12 per litre, while the South-South recorded the lowest at N2,777.76. The NBS also reported that the average retail price of kerosene per gallon dropped by 10.8 per cent to N11,949.39 in May from N13,396.23 in April. On a year-on-year basis, however, the price rose by 40.88 per cent from N8,482.22 recorded in May 2025. Sokoto again topped the chart with the highest average price per gallon at N15,928.39, followed by Kebbi at N15,855.73 and Niger at N14,465.43. Bayelsa recorded the lowest price at N7,084.56. Meanwhile, diesel prices surged sharply during the month.

The average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) rose by 32.44 per cent month-on-month to ₦3,277.47 per litre in May from ₦2,474.69 in April. Compared to May 2025, diesel prices increased by 86.4 per cent from ₦1,758.26 per litre.

Nasarawa 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 had the lowest average price at ₦2,823.85, while Benue and Kebbi recorded ₦2,961.33 and ₦3,016.14 respectively.

The North-West zone recorded the highest diesel price at ₦3,313.60 per litre, while the South-West had the lowest at ₦3,227.55.

Petrol prices also continued their upward trend. The average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) increased by 4.13 per cent month-on-month to ₦1,596.25 per litre in May from ₦1,532.93 in April. On a year-on-year basis, petrol prices rose by 55.31 per cent from ₦1,027.76 per litre recorded in May 2025.

Edo 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. Adamawa, Katsina and Sokoto posted the lowest average prices at ₦1,469.83, ₦1,470.63 and ₦1,489.33 respectively.

The South-South zone recorded the highest average petrol price at ₦1,623.84 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at ₦1,564.10, according to the NBS.