The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has adjusted the pump price of petrol in Abuja from ₦890 to ₦905 per litre, following recent disruptions in supply caused by a short-lived strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The price change, which took effect on October 7, coincided with fuel shortages at several filling stations, prompting the return of long queues across the Federal Capital Territory.
NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, described the increase as a temporary situation triggered by a two-to-three-day delay in product loading during the labour action.
“The disruption created a brief imbalance in supply, but normal operations have resumed. We expect prices to stabilize and revert soon as distribution normalizes,” Ojulari said during a briefing on October 8.
A survey of major NNPCL outlets in areas including Wuse, Lugbe, and Gwagwalada confirmed the new price, with attendants dispensing petrol at ₦905 per litre under tight supervision to manage anxious motorists. Meanwhile, some independent marketers raised their prices to as high as ₦945 per litre, citing limited supply.
This development marks yet another adjustment in 2025, continuing a pattern of incremental price shifts since Nigeria’s downstream deregulation began in 2023.
The recent PENGASSAN strike, which demanded better welfare and safety standards, temporarily halted operations at key depots and refineries, including the Dangote Refinery.
The shutdown worsened existing supply constraints, particularly in the north-central region. Though the strike has ended, NNPCL acknowledged residual shortages but assured that emergency import volumes are being mobilized to restore adequate stock levels.
The situation unfolds amid fluctuating international oil prices, with Brent crude trading around $79 per barrel on October 8. Earlier in the year, NNPCL and the Dangote Refinery had engaged in brief price competition before market forces aligned their rates.
The current episode underscores the ongoing struggle to achieve supply independence despite increased domestic refining capacity.
Public transport operators in Abuja have already begun adjusting fares upward by 10–15 percent to cushion the impact of higher fuel costs. NNPCL has appealed to motorists to avoid panic buying, emphasizing that fuel availability will improve within days.
Officials from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are monitoring compliance across stations to ensure fair distribution and pricing.
As of midday on October 8, queues persisted at select fuel outlets, though NNPCL projected full normalization by the weekend. The episode once again highlights the fragility of Nigeria’s fuel supply system, burdened by labour unrest, import reliance, and delayed domestic integration reinforces the need to strengthen local refining capacity to prevent future disruptions.
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