The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reported a substantial decrease in nationwide petrol consumption, putting the current figure at 4.5 million litres per day. This marks a drastic 92% drop from the 60 million litres consumed daily in May 2023.
A detailed breakdown by NMDPRA shows how petrol distribution varies across 16 states, with Niger State receiving the highest allocation of 21 trucks, totaling 940,000 litres per day. Lagos follows with 12 trucks (726,001 litres), and Kaduna also receives 12 trucks (454,001 litres). States such as Oyo receive 12 trucks (454,000 litres), while Kano receives nine trucks, and both Ondo and Kwara are allocated six trucks each.
Meanwhile, Edo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Sokoto State each receive four trucks from NNPC Limited. Ogun and Osun receive three trucks each, while Gombe, Benue, Ekiti, and Kebbi each receive one truck.
This sharp decline in consumption has fueled concerns over Nigerians’ purchasing power, which has weakened since President Bola Tinubu assumed office. One of his initial actions was the removal of fuel subsidies, aiming to redirect over N1 trillion towards critical sectors. President Tinubu justified the move, citing the unsustainability of fuel subsidies and the burden of debt it imposed on the nation.
However, the subsidy removal has led to a sharp rise in petrol prices, which have soared from N195 per litre to over N1,000 per litre, significantly impacting the cost of living.
