Posted by Chinenye on Thu 17th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
Petrol prices are rising sharply in parts of Northern Nigeria, leaving drivers and transport workers under growing pressure.
(Queue at a fuel station. Photo Credit: Inside_Naija)
Premium Motor Spirit has climbed to ₦1,500 per litre in multiple northern states, sparking fresh alarms about transportation and everyday living costs.
The fuel is selling at these peak prices in Kano, Yobe, Sokoto, Borno, Taraba and Zamfara, with significant jumps recorded elsewhere across the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has demanded immediate government action to shield workers and families from the squeeze.
Union leader Joe Ajaero said petrol costs around ₦1,430 per litre in major urban centres, climbing even higher in remote areas.
The labour body is pushing for wage increases for workers and local refinery sales priced in naira to ease pressure.
Higher fuel costs will inevitably push up fares for transport, food, housing, schooling and other essentials, the union warned.
Fuel sellers themselves are calling for state support, cautioning that global crude prices could drive domestic prices even further upward.
The pain is already showing. In Kano, tricycle operators have raised fares while car owners are cutting back or abandoning private vehicle use entirely.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has meanwhile become a bottleneck, with major sections gridlocked on Wednesday and motorists facing hours of delays.
For drivers trapped in such congestion, expensive petrol combined with wasted hours on the road compounds the financial burden.
The crisis has reopened debate about fuel costs and their political weight as Nigeria heads toward elections in 2027.
Petrol prices continue to vary widely state to state, leaving Nigerians waiting to see whether government will step in to stabilise supply, boost domestic refining or shield households from mounting transport and living expenses.