The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has painted a mixed picture of household fuel costs in its latest report for May 2026.
Kerosene prices showed a slight relief, with the average retail cost per litre dipping marginally to N2,971.94 from N2,976.94 in April — a modest 0.17% decline.
Yet, compared to a year ago, kerosene remains far more expensive, climbing 36.62% from N2,175.29 in May 2025.
Sokoto topped the charts at nearly N3,984.09 per litre, while Bayelsa offered the lowest at just N2,018.79.
On a gallon basis, kerosene averaged N11,949.39, down 10.8% from April but still 40.88% higher than last year.
Diesel told a very different story. The average price per litre surged to N3,277.47 in May, a sharp 32.44% jump from April’s N2,474.69.
Year-on-year, diesel costs have nearly doubled, rising 86.40% from N1,758.26 in May 2025.
Nasarawa recorded the steepest price at N3,785.84 per litre, while Kogi posted the lowest at N2,823.85.
Across regions, the North-West consistently reported the highest fuel costs, while the South-South and South-West offered relatively lower averages.
The figures underscore the growing strain on households and businesses, with kerosene offering only a faint reprieve while diesel continues to exert heavy pressure on the economy.
