Nigerian motorists are set to face higher fuel costs after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced an NNPC petrol price increase at its retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja.

The latest adjustment comes amid a growing supply squeeze linked to the suspension of petrol loading at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has entered its fifth consecutive day.

A survey conducted on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, showed that NNPC filling stations in Lagos now sell petrol at ₦1,300 per litre, compared with the previous price of ₦1,118. The new rate represents an increase of ₦182 per litre.

In Abuja, the price rose from ₦1,210 to ₦1,330 per litre, translating to a ₦120 increase.

The latest price adjustments came as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery continued to suspend petrol loading operations, leaving fuel marketers uncertain about supply and future pricing.

The refinery has not indicated when product loading will resume or whether it intends to adjust its ex-depot price, creating further uncertainty in the downstream petroleum market.

There are concerns that wholesale prices could rise further when the refinery resumes product dispatch, potentially pushing petrol prices higher for motorists across the country.

The NNPC price increase also followed a significant jump in petrol imports. Figures from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that petrol imports increased from 5.9 million litres per day in May 2026 to 18.1 million litres per day in June 2026, representing a 207 per cent rise.

During the same period, Dangote Refinery’s daily petrol output fell from 41.5 million litres to 32.5 million litres, while total domestic petrol supply declined by 22 per cent.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has criticised the approval of new import licences by the NMDPRA, saying some importers are already offering petrol to marketers at about ₦1,350 per litre – higher than the price charged by Dangote Refinery.

The Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria also warned that prolonged dependence on imported fuel could increase demand for foreign exchange and place further pressure on the naira.

Data gathered by petroleumprice.ng showed that depots in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar adjusted their ex-depot petrol prices to between ₦1,200 and ₦1,230 per litre.

Aiteo and NIPCO depots in Lagos were selling petrol at ₦1,200 per litre, while Optima in Warri increased its price to ₦1,220 and A.Y.M. Shafa quoted ₦1,230 per litre.

Liquid Bulk and Sigmund depots in Port Harcourt, as well as Mainland Depot in Calabar, also priced petrol at ₦1,230 per litre.

The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, urged the Federal Government to sustain the naira-for-crude arrangement introduced in October 2024 to support domestic refining, warning that the shift towards dollar-denominated sales could lead to further increases at filling stations.

The President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, also warned that the policy could gradually dollarise Nigeria’s domestic fuel market as marketers pass foreign exchange costs on to consumers.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has reassured Nigerians that the country has enough petroleum products to meet current demand.