NMDPRA assures Nigerians of adequate aviation fuel supply, dismisses price hike claims

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has reassured Nigerians of a steady and sufficient supply of aviation fuel across the country, amid concerns over alleged shortages and rising prices.

In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita, the regulatory body said reports suggesting supply disruptions and extreme price hikes were misleading and did not reflect the current market situation.

According to the authority, Nigeria currently has a combined aviation fuel sufficiency of 74 days, comprising 12 days of inland stock and 62 days of refinery stock. The NMDPRA described this as evidence of a “robust supply” capable of meeting national demand.

The agency also clarified that aviation fuel, like other petroleum products, has been fully deregulated, with prices determined by market forces rather than government control.

Providing current pricing details, the NMDPRA disclosed that the ex-gantry price at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemical Company stands at ₦1,879 per litre. This, it noted, is slightly below the international indicative supply cost of about ₦1,900 per litre in Lagos as of April 16, 2026.

A nationwide price survey conducted by the authority as of April 17 showed that retail prices range between ₦1,960 and ₦2,800 per litre. It stressed that widely circulated claims of aviation fuel selling at ₦3,300 per litre are inaccurate and not supported by current data.

“The speculated ₦3,300 per litre price being peddled in sections of the media does not reflect market realities,” the statement said.

The NMDPRA reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitoring supply and pricing trends in line with its regulatory mandate. It added that necessary measures would be taken to prevent supply disruptions and curb profiteering within the aviation fuel supply chain.

While commending stakeholders for maintaining steady distribution, the authority assured the public of its continued efforts to guarantee energy security and stability in the petroleum sector.