Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption has fallen sharply by 28% in the last two years as rising fuel prices continue to weigh heavily on citizens.

According to fresh figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), average daily petrol usage dropped to 49.28 million litres in June 2025, compared to 68.35 million litres in June 2023.

From Subsidy Removal to Soaring Prices

The decline comes two years after President Bola Tinubu ended Nigeria’s fuel subsidy programme on his inauguration day in May 2023. Since then, pump prices have skyrocketed from N195 per litre to over N800 per litre in Lagos and above N900 per litre in Abuja and several states.

A survey revealed that many filling stations, including those run by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), now sell petrol at around N865 per litre in Lagos and N890 in Abuja.

  • In the North-East, motorists pay about N895 per litre.

  • In the North-West and Central regions, the price hovers around N885 per litre.

  • In the South-South and South-East, it is around N895 per litre.

Only a handful of filling stations in Lagos reportedly sell below N865.

Fuel Stations Struggle With Sales

The high prices have left many fuel stations deserted. Ibrahim Gambo, manager of RYBL Services in Abuja, explained:

“At our station, it now takes nearly two months to sell one 30,000-litre truck. People buy fuel only when it is absolutely necessary. Even generators are used sparingly now.”

Similar reports of low patronage have emerged from Asaba, Kano, Kaduna, and Nasarawa, where only stations with slightly lower prices attract customers.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) confirmed the trend. Spokesman Chinedu Ukadike said:

“Turnover has dropped to as low as one truck every one or two months. If nothing changes, independents could disappear by 2028.”

Nigerians Shift to Alternatives

As petrol prices remain high, more Nigerians are turning to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cheaper alternative. Some major marketers and the Dangote Refinery have already begun planning wider distribution with CNG-powered trucks.

Energy analyst Henry Adigun noted that unstable pump prices are damaging investor confidence:

“Competition must be fair and predictable. Otherwise, marketers will be unable to recover loans, and investment will suffer.”

Price War Among Suppliers

Meanwhile, depot owners are slashing prices to compete with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, sparking a fresh price war that now includes both petrol and diesel (AGO).

Industry watchers say the rivalry could shape Nigeria’s downstream sector in the coming months.