Tinubu Rules Out Petrol Subsidy Return as Fuel Hits N1,500 Per Litre in Northern Nigeria
By Aboki Forex —
President Bola Tinubu has shut the door on restoring petrol subsidies, even as pump prices rise to as much as N1,500 per litre in parts of northern Nigeria and households feel the squeeze.
Tinubu made his position clear on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while giving an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme. He said a return to what he called the "ruinous petrol subsidy regime" was not an option.
Tinubu: Subsidy Consumed Trillions
The President said the old arrangement had consumed trillions of naira and left Nigeria's economy exposed to every shift in global oil prices.
Tinubu said: "At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested. We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home."
Rather than revisit subsidies, he said the government would push harder on compressed natural gas and other alternative transport energy. His argument is that Nigeria's gas reserves give it room to limit exposure to international energy market swings.
He said: "Nigeria cannot control events in global energy markets. But as a gas-rich nation, we can reduce our exposure."
N1,500 Per Litre in the North, N1,430 in Major Cities
Petrol now sells for as much as N1,500 per litre in parts of northern Nigeria, including Kano, Yobe, Sokoto, Borno, Taraba and Zamfara. In major cities, prices have climbed to around N1,430 per litre.
The Citizens Action Network (CAN) condemned the increase in a statement signed by its National Convener, Ade-Adewunmi Adeoye, and issued the same day. The group called the rising prices unacceptable and demanded that the Federal Government reverse pump prices to N250 per litre.
CAN accused the Tinubu administration of deepening economic hardship, saying Nigerians were already struggling to meet basic needs including food, housing and education.
120,000 Vehicles Converted to CNG
On the alternative energy front, Tinubu said more than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to CNG. More than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations are now operating across the country.
He added that an implementation committee under the Nigeria Governors' Forum is working with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles to identify key transport corridors for further rollout.
The import side of the market remains under pressure. Nigeria's cost of importing petrol has climbed to N1,420 per litre, a figure that covers the international product price, shipping, insurance and related charges. That is N70 above Dangote Petroleum Refinery's current gantry price of N1,350 per litre, leaving marketers who need to replenish stock through international channels with thin room to manoeuvre.
What This Means for Nigerians
The gap between the landing cost of imported petrol and the refinery gate price explains why marketers are under strain and why retail prices keep climbing, especially in the far north where logistics add to the burden. With the subsidy door now firmly shut, the CNG rollout is the government's main answer to transport costs. How quickly the conversion centres and refuelling stations spread beyond the current 400 and 90 locations will shape what Nigerians actually pay to move goods and people.