Rising fuel prices pushed many Nigerians to cut their use of petrol, diesel and cooking gas in the first half of 2026 as higher energy costs reduced household spending power and increased transport and production expenses.
The first half of the 2026 Downstream Industry Analysis Report by the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), obtained by The PUNCH, showed that demand for the country’s three major petroleum products dropped as prices climbed.
The report showed petrol sold for an average of N1,035 per litre in January, N1,051 in February, N1,289 in March, N1,533 in April and N1,596 in May before falling to N1,300 in June. During the same period, daily petrol use dropped from about 60–61 million litres in January to around 48 million litres in June, with a slight improvement after June’s price cut.
Diesel followed a similar pattern. Average prices rose from N1,362 per litre in January to N3,277 in May before easing to N2,900 in June. Daily consumption fell from about 19.5 million litres in January to roughly 16 million litres in May and June.
Cooking gas prices also increased from N1,086 per kilogramme in January to N1,800 in May before dropping to N1,661 in June, while demand generally declined.
MEMAN linked the higher prices to rising global crude oil costs caused by Middle East tensions and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The association said the figures showed Nigerians had become more sensitive to fuel prices, with higher costs leading to lower consumption.
MEMAN also warned against depending only on local refining. It said fuel imports should continue alongside domestic production to guarantee supply, encourage competition and strengthen energy security. The association added that Nigeria should establish a National Strategic Stock to protect against refinery shutdowns, logistics problems and geopolitical disruptions.
