The NLC petrol N1,500 crisis has deepened across Nigeria as the labour union demands urgent government action, with rising fuel prices linked to the renewed US-Iran conflict and higher global crude prices.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to urgently cushion Nigerians from rising petrol prices, saying the commodity now sells for about N1,430 per litre in major cities and as high as N1,500 or more in some locations.
According to NLC President Joe Ajaero, the latest increase threatens workers and households already dealing with high transportation, food and other living costs. In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, he demanded wage awards, more crude sales to local refineries in naira and expanded national petroleum storage capacity.
Newstridez reviewed the NLC statement and current petrol-price reports from several Nigerian states, which show that the N1,500 mark has already become a reality in parts of the country. Reports from Yobe, Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara and other states show significant differences between pump prices depending on location and supply conditions.
The NLC said the renewed crisis in the Gulf has pushed up international crude prices and created another shock for Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market. The union argued, however, that Nigeria should have some protection because it produces crude oil and now has significant domestic refining capacity.
“Our situation need not be this bleak.”
Ajaero said the increase would not stop at filling stations because higher petrol prices usually raise transportation costs, which then feed into food prices, rents, school fees and other household expenses. The NLC warned that the latest pressure could deepen poverty if the government fails to respond quickly.
The union’s first demand is for reasonable wage awards for workers to help households cope with the immediate shock. It also wants the Federal Government to sell sufficient Nigerian crude to local refineries in naira, arguing that such an arrangement could reduce exposure to international market and foreign-exchange pressures.
The NLC further called for an expansion of Nigeria’s petroleum storage capacity. It said stronger storage would give the country a buffer during international supply disruptions and improve energy security when global oil markets become unstable.
The renewed pressure follows a sharp increase in international crude prices as the conflict involving the United States and Iran affects global energy markets. Nigeria, as an oil producer, can benefit from higher export prices through increased government revenue, but consumers also face higher domestic fuel costs when the international oil market rises.
Data reviewed by Newstridez indicates that petrol prices now vary widely across Nigeria. In Yobe, reports put the price around N1,500 to N1,520 per litre in parts of Damaturu. Sokoto recorded prices around N1,465 to N1,500, while Kano recorded roughly N1,460 to N1,500 in several locations.
The situation is also putting pressure on transport operators. In Kano, commercial tricycle operators reportedly increased fares by about 50 per cent on some routes, with short-distance trips rising from around N200 to N300. Similar pressure is emerging in other states as operators attempt to cover higher fuel costs.
In Taraba, motorists and commuters reportedly faced petrol prices ranging from N1,500 to N1,700 at some filling stations. In Adamawa, prices varied considerably between Yola and Mubi, with some reports putting the price as high as N1,850 per litre in Mubi.
The different prices underline the effect of location, transport costs and product availability on what consumers pay. Areas farther from major supply points can face higher costs because marketers must factor additional logistics expenses into the final pump price.
In Lagos, where access to locally refined petrol can be easier because of the proximity of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, prices have also moved upward. A recent market survey reported petrol prices between about N1,350 and N1,450 per litre in parts of Lagos, while some outlets elsewhere in the country were already selling above N1,500.
The Dangote refinery has become central to the debate because the plant was expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products. However, the current price pressure shows that local refining alone does not completely shield consumers from changes in crude prices, commercial costs and other market forces.
The NLC has also raised concerns about the supply of Nigerian crude to local refineries. Earlier this month, the union criticised another petrol price increase and questioned why the government had not done more to ensure that Dangote Refinery received adequate domestic crude supplies.
Figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission cited by The PUNCH showed that producers offered 68.1 million barrels of crude to Dangote Refinery in the second quarter of 2026, against the refinery’s stated requirement of 63 million barrels. The refinery accepted 52.6 million barrels during the period.
That dispute shows that domestic fuel pricing involves more than simply having crude oil in Nigeria. Pricing arrangements, crude quality, commercial terms, transportation, supply agreements and refinery operations all affect how much refined petrol eventually reaches consumers.
For ordinary Nigerians, however, the immediate issue remains the price at the filling station. Higher petrol costs can quickly affect transport fares and the cost of moving food, farm produce and other goods between states.
Small businesses also face additional pressure because many depend directly or indirectly on petrol and diesel. Businesses that operate generators, transport goods or depend on commercial vehicles may pass higher energy costs to consumers when operating expenses rise.
The NLC has therefore urged the government to consider emergency intervention rather than leaving households to absorb the entire impact. Ajaero argued that the current global oil shock is unusual enough to justify temporary measures aimed at protecting citizens.
The union also pointed to higher government oil revenue as a possible source of relief. According to Ajaero, crude oil is currently selling around $35 to $40 per barrel above the benchmark used in the national budget, which he described as a significant windfall for the Federal Government.
The NLC wants part of that additional revenue directed toward measures that can reduce the pressure on workers and households. It also said the government should not completely rule out subsidies during an emergency, although Nigeria’s return to fuel-subsidy policies remains a politically and economically sensitive issue.
The current situation also comes more than three years after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023. Since then, petrol prices have increasingly responded to crude prices, exchange-rate movements, logistics expenses and market conditions.
The government has promoted domestic refining as part of its response, while private refiners have expanded their role in the downstream market. Yet, the latest price increase shows how exposed Nigerian consumers remain to international oil-market shocks.
Meanwhile, fuel marketers have also warned that prices could climb further if international crude prices continue rising. The PUNCH reported that some industry stakeholders warned petrol could approach N2,000 per litre under sustained crude-price pressure.
Such an increase would place further pressure on transport operators, manufacturers, farmers and households. It could also complicate efforts to control inflation because transportation remains closely connected to the movement and pricing of food and other consumer goods.
The NLC’s position is that the government should act before the latest increase spreads further through the economy. Its proposed measures focus on short-term wage relief and longer-term changes to crude supply and national fuel storage.
For workers, wage awards could provide immediate support, but the size and duration of any intervention would determine how much relief households actually receive. For local refineries, selling crude in naira could reduce some currency-related pressures, although the wider pricing and commercial structure would still influence pump prices.
Newstridez checks across recent reports show that the N1,500 petrol level is not uniform nationwide, with some states recording prices below that figure and others already exceeding it. The situation therefore differs by location, but the broader upward pressure remains clear.
The development is likely to keep pressure on the Federal Government, oil-sector regulators and fuel marketers as global crude prices remain elevated. Nigerians will also be watching whether domestic refineries can increase output and whether additional crude supply arrangements can reduce pressure on local petrol prices.
As at the time of filing this report, the NLC petrol N1,500 crisis had pushed the labour union to demand emergency action, including wage awards, naira-denominated crude supplies for local refineries and expanded petroleum storage. Petrol prices remained above N1,400 in several major markets, with some locations recording N1,500 or more.
The immediate focus now shifts to the Federal Government and petroleum-sector operators. Any response will have to balance consumer relief, domestic refining, government revenue and the realities of a global oil market still affected by the US-Iran conflict.
