The retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, has reached a staggering ₦1,000 per litre across most filling stations in Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest regions. This price surge is deepening economic woes and intensifying security concerns in areas already grappling with poverty, infrastructure gaps, and instability.
In Gombe State, major marketers such as AYM Shafa Limited and A.A. Rano Limited are offering a marginal respite, selling petrol at ₦980 per litre. But for millions of residents, that 2% discount offers little relief in a region where fuel powers every facet of life from transport and trade to agriculture and electricity.
What’s driving the ₦1,000/litre petrol price?
The current spike in pump prices is a culmination of multiple macroeconomic and sector-specific factors. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had earlier increased petrol prices to ₦950/litre in Abuja and ₦925/litre in Lagos from April 2, 2025, citing prevailing “market dynamics” in the deregulated downstream sector. However, in the northern regions, where transport and supply chain costs are significantly higher, the market has pushed prices to ₦1,000/litre in states like Borno, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, and Yobe.
The surge coincides with ongoing volatility in Nigeria’s fuel supply system. A recent price war between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery, coupled with the temporary suspension of the naira for crude policy, contributed to market disruptions and hoarding among independent marketers. Analysts also link the escalation to increased ex-depot prices driven by the weakening naira, fluctuating global oil prices, and mounting logistic costs for transporting fuel from southern depots to the North.
Economic toll: fuel cost driving deeper poverty
In regions where over 60% of the population live below the poverty line, the implications of the price hike are severe. Petrol is not just a commodity, it’s an economic lifeline. From irrigation pumps and food vending stalls to motorcycles and public transport systems, PMS fuels daily life in the North.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates that Nigerians spend over ₦327 billion annually on petrol and diesel. That figure is now set to rise substantially. In cities like Maiduguri, Bauchi, and Kano, transport fares have increased by as much as 30% in two weeks, with ripple effects seen in food prices and basic services. Small business owners report slashed profits and mounting operational costs.
Aisha Musa, a food vendor in Gombe, described the situation as unbearable. “How do we survive when everything depends on fuel? A bag of rice is up, cooking gas is up, and now petrol is ₦1,000. It’s killing our businesses,” she said.
Rising prices, rising risks: security on the edge
Beyond economic hardship, the rising pump price is aggravating regional insecurity. The Northeast and Northwest remain flashpoints for Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts. With unemployment already high, the fuel price surge adds pressure to communities where basic needs are unmet.
Security analysts are raising red flags. “High fuel costs reduce mobility for farmers, traders, and even security personnel. Worse still, they increase desperation among unemployed youths who may resort to crime or join armed groups,” said Dr Kabir Adamu, a security and intelligence expert based in Abuja.
In Borno, the state government recently introduced a ₦600/litre fuel subsidy for farmers in insurgency-affected communities. But elsewhere, the price spike to ₦1,000/litre threatens to nullify these interventions, further entrenching inequality between urban and rural communities.
Local governments under pressure
In Gombe, one of the most stable states in the Northeast, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya recently donated 50 operational vehicles to security agencies to strengthen local policing. However, even such commendable efforts risk being overshadowed by the socio-economic fallout of rising fuel costs. Many rural areas remain cut off from central supply routes, depending on black market petrol sold at even higher prices l, sometimes up to ₦1,100/litre.
Marketers tread a fine line
Major marketers like AYM Shafa and A.A. Rano are attempting to ease consumer pain by maintaining prices at ₦980/litre. These marketers face higher ex-depot prices and delivery costs. With competition intensifying from Dangote Refinery and NNPCL Retail, some independent marketers are contemplating temporary shutdowns to avoid operating at a loss.
IPMAN Vice President Abubakar Maigadi told reporters, “We’re in a tight situation. There’s no uniformity in supply, and we’re paying more for logistics. We need stability in the system more refining capacity, consistent supply, and a better forex regime.”
Public outrage and national debate
The price hike has triggered online outrage, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where citizens are demanding transparency and accountability from the government. A trending post from Kano reads, “₦1,000/litre for fuel? Tinubu’s government has increased fuel by over 400%. We’re drowning, and Abuja is silent.”
While President Bola Tinubu has promoted Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner and cheaper alternative (at around ₦200 per standard cubic metre), the reality in the Northeast and Northwest is different. Infrastructure for CNG usage remains non-existent in many parts of these regions.
“I hear about CNG, but where is it? We don’t have filling stations for it in Gombe. It’s like a Lagos-only thing,” said Ibrahim Sani, a commercial driver.
What the experts say
Energy economists argue that the situation is not beyond repair, but urgent action is needed. Suggestions include:
- Speeding up the rehabilitation of state-owned refineries
- Ensuring crude supply to local refiners like Dangote
- Establishing regional storage hubs to reduce inland logistics costs
- Implementing price stabilisation mechanisms through a strategic reserve
- Expanding CNG stations nationwide
Dr Olu Arowolo, a petroleum policy analyst, said: “Fuel is a political commodity in Nigeria. If you don’t fix supply and stabilise forex, you’re just postponing chaos. The North is particularly vulnerable because of distance and weak infrastructure.”
Looking forward: what’s next for the North?
Stakeholders, including PETROAN, IPMAN, and local civic organisations, have called for renewed dialogue with the Federal Government to explore short-term palliative measures and long-term structural reforms.
The outlook, however, remains grim. Without urgent interventions, the current ₦1,000/litre rate could become the new normal entrenching hardship in Nigeria’s most economically fragile zones and fuelling resentment in communities already at a tipping point.
In a region where petrol is not just fuel but survival, the stakes have never been higher.
