Energy
FG, Independent Marketers, Labour At Daggers Drawn Over Fuel Price
Palpable fear of mass tumult against the Nigerian Government owing to harsh economic realities might have forced the hand of the authorities in making public statements that there would be no further increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.
But this has not gone down well with the independent marketers, who insist that given the current market realties, there would be costs that the government has to take up or would be passed to the people.
In plain language, the marketers are insisting that either subsidy is reinstated or market forces would continue to determine the prices of products.
Biztellers served you a report that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) made it clear that it was not considering an upward adjustment in the pump price of petrol.
The state oil company, took its verified X (initially Twitter) handle, @nnpclimited late Monday to make the assertion.
The tweet, seen in several quarters as a move to douse tensions, was addressed to customers.
It reads, “Dear esteemed customers, we at NNPC Retail value your patronage, and we do not have the intention to increase our PMS pump prices as widely speculated.
“Please buy the best quality products at the most affordable prices at our NNPC Retail Stations nationwide.”
Being sensitive to the fact that he had been sitting on a keg of gunpowder, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu followed up on the tweet by NNPCL with his own tweet, assuring that there would be no hike in the pump prices.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu in an attempt at reassuring the populace, declared that there would not increase in the pump price of petrol.
President Tinubu at his verified official X handle, @NGRPresident tweeted, “Mr President and the industry stakeholders who have been widely consulted and convinced, based on information before them, that we can maintain current pricing without reversing our deregulation policy by swiftly cleaning up existing inefficiencies within the midstream and downstream Petroleum sector.
“This is why there is no increase in prices at this time”.
The statement, which was per say, issued under the seal of President Tinubu under the subject, “On the Purported Pending Increase in Fuel Prices” was signed by Official Spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale.
Many informed Nigerians have been reacting to the posturing from government quarters – the NNPCL and the Presidency, in a way that has made it begin to sound like a grandstanding by the authorities.
For instance, the statement from President Tinubu had spoken about consulting and convincing stakeholders with available information.
It also pointed to ‘cleanup’ of certain areas of the midstream and downstream sector without letting the world know what was required, who would be responsible and how long it would take.
The first salvo against the attempt to pool the wool over the people’s eyes was from fiery Nigerian journalist, Rufai Oseni, who asked for details of what it cost to get petrol to the pump for dispensing to consumers.
He took to his verified X handle, @ruffydfire to call attention to the fact that information being bandied in the public might have been inadequate.
He tweeted, “Dear NNPC, kindly let us know how you calculate petrol prices in Nigeria, stating inspection cost, Landing from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Togo or to Nigeria, then state other cost components that make up the final price, factor in fx fluctuations.
“Thank you”.
Another sensitive aspect is that those in power want the world to believe that the market has been deregulated and will remain so but the reality on ground speaks differently.
Fuel queues are already beginning to show in certain parts of Nigeria, including Lagos and Abuja, while price hike is manifest with independent marketers having adjusted pump prices in different locations in tune with realities.
The base pump price of petrol has shifted from N612/litre to N670/litre. It was gathered that that the minimum price applied to NNPCL Retail outlets and some other filling stations, while others determined what prices to sell at.
Expectations are rife that this adjustment would see petrol being sold at above N800/litre at filling stations across Nigeria in locations outside Lagos and Abuja.
It had been hovering around N750/lite in those locations before this recent impact of foreign exchange and Brent price at the global market.
As that is playing out, Ngelale shared a graphic presentation of pump prices of petrol across West Africa, depicting Nigeria as the lowest.
Interestingly the second and more important salvo had come from the stakeholders that President Tinubu’s statement claimed were consulted and convinced.
The Independent Oil Marketers have taken the position that only a return to the subsidy regime would see the current price maintained.
Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja, Mohammed Shuaibu, on Tuesday, opined that government should reconsider reversing itself because the subsidy removal has come with adverse economic impact.
He said, “Let them not do the needful. (Else, there) will see the consequences. We learned this morning that Kenya, which equally removed subsidy and noticed that its effect was so hard on the citizens, has again resumed the subsidy regime for the period of two months,”
He added, “Government is about the people and must have a listening ear. For Nigeria, how can we be an oil producing nation with four refineries and all of them are down?
“When he (President Tinubu) announced it (subsidy removal), we said it was going to bring problems. Are we not feeling the consequences of that announcement now? It is forex that largely determines the cost of petroleum products here.
“Marketers are not willing to import products again. So, if the government is going to relax the removal of subsidy for a while, it should better do that as a matter of urgency.”
While the government quarters and the relevant stakeholders are engaged in what now appears to be mind games and structured perception management messaging, Oseni on Tuesday shared what he considered the presenting landing cost of petrol in Nigeria.
He tweeted, “A breakdown of the landing cost of petrol showed that while product cost, as of yesterday (Monday August 14, 2023), was N627.82 per litre, finance cost was N11.61, and operations/administrative cost, N12.32, bringing the total landing cost to N651.75 per litre”.
As things stand, it appears that the reality confronting Nigerians is sterner economic hardship which would follow additional increases in the pump prices of petrol.
Alternatively, the government would have to swallow her pride and go back to subsidy.
Analysts are of the opinion that all outlets serving petrol below the calculated landing cost must have an avenue to recoup the outlay, which signals the obituary of the subsidy removal policy of the President Tinubu administration.
Given that organised labour, through the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had placed relevant stakeholders on notice of immediate industrial action any time pump price of petrol is increased, it portends that a lot of wisdom would be required to avert crises in the present circumstances.
New crude grade variants, Utapate and Cawthorne, have boosted Nigeria’s crude oil production by 12.16 million barrels.
The crude grades, introduced in 2024 and early 2026, represent the latest additions to the country’s basket of crude oil grades aimed at expanding export streams and strengthening oil revenues.
Data contained in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) monthly crude and condensate production, indicated that the Utapate crude grade produced a total of 8.75 million barrels between January and May 2026, while the newly introduced Cawthorne blend contributed 3.41 million barrels during the same period, bringing the combined output from both crude grades to approximately 12.16 million barrels.
The data also showed that Utapate has yet to achieve its projected output target announced by the government, even as production remained more than 20,000 barrels per day below the 80,000 bpd target set by operators.
The figures showed that Utapate recorded an average daily production of 55,190 barrels in January. Based on the 31-day month, this translated to a total monthly output of 1.71 million barrels.
Output increased to 57,970 barrels per day in February, yielding about 1.62 million barrels, before rising marginally to 58,020 barrels daily in March, equivalent to roughly 1.80 million barrels.
In April, the field attained its highest daily production level of 59,290 barrels, producing an estimated 1.78 million barrels during the month. Production moderated slightly to 59,170 barrels per day in May but still generated approximately 1.83 million barrels due to the longer calendar month.
However, despite the upward trend, the data indicated that Utapate remained significantly below the 80,000 barrels-per-day target. The field fell short by 24,810 barrels daily in January, 22,030 barrels in February, and 21,980 barrels in March.
The production gap narrowed to 20,710 barrels per day in April before widening marginally to 20,830 barrels in May.
The development suggests that although operators have made progress in scaling up production, the ambitious target announced earlier by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has yet to be realised.
The Utapate field, which commenced production in May 2024, had been projected to achieve 80,000 barrels per day by the end of 2025.
The Utapate crude blend was introduced into the international market by the NNPC Ltd and its partner, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited, following the lifting of the maiden cargo of 950,000 barrels destined for Spain.
Produced from Oil Mining Lease 13 in Akwa Ibom State, the crude grade possesses characteristics that have attracted international interest. It has a sulphur content of 0.0655 percent and a relatively low carbon footprint resulting from flare gas elimination.
Meanwhile, another emerging crude stream, Cawthorne, contributed 3.41 million barrels to Nigeria’s production between January and May, according to the NUPRC data.
The figures showed that Cawthorne’s average daily production rose sharply from 12,340 barrels in January to 16,450 barrels in February and 23,970 barrels in March. The field sustained the momentum in April, reaching 30,970 barrels per day before easing slightly to 28,940 barrels daily in May.
The monthly production volumes translated to 382,540 barrels in January, 460,600 barrels in February, 743,070 barrels in March, 929,100 barrels in April and 897,140 barrels in May.
The NNPC Ltd had recently announced the commencement of exports from the Cawthorne blend, describing the development as part of efforts to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and strengthen the country’s position in the global energy market.
In a statement, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, said the first cargo of the new grade was lifted aboard the MT Eburones vessel for shipment to the Netherlands.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has commenced export of its new crude grade, Cawthorne, marking a significant milestone in the company’s drive to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and expand its portfolio of globally competitive export streams,” Odeh said.
He added, “Cawthorne blend crude, the latest addition to Nigeria’s basket of crude grades, has an API gravity of 36.4, placing it firmly within the light, sweet category, comparable to Bonny Light, and highly valued in the global market for its superior petrol and diesel yields.”
According to him, the maiden cargo, estimated at 950,000 barrels, was exported through the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading vessel located offshore Bonny, Rivers State.
“The cargo was exported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading vessel, which is strategically located offshore Bonny. The facility enhances crude evacuation from OML 18 and strengthens Nigeria’s export reliability, operational efficiency and overall energy security,” Odeh stated.
The emergence of both Utapate and Cawthorne underscores Nigeria’s determination to diversify its crude export portfolio and maximise oil earnings. However, the latest NUPRC figures also highlight the operational challenges facing producers as they strive to convert ambitious output targets into actual barrels.
Combined, Utapate and Cawthorne contributed an estimated 12.16 million barrels of crude oil between January and May, providing additional support to Nigeria’s broader efforts to sustain production growth and improve foreign exchange earnings from the oil sector.
On Thursday, the NUPRC reported that Nigeria’s crude oil production rose above its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries quota in May 2026, with the country recording its highest crude output in 15 months amid improved operational stability and the absence of major disruptions across key oil facilities.
Data released showed that Nigeria produced an average of 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil per day in May, representing 102 per cent of the country’s 1.5 million barrels-per-day quota approved by OPEC.
When condensate production of 170,446 barrels per day was added, Nigeria’s total oil output climbed to 1,700,800 barrels per day, further strengthening the country’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer and boosting revenue.
OPEC oil output in May hit its lowest in more than two decades, a Reuters survey found, as a U.S. naval blockade cut Iran’s exports and Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz slashed exports by other Gulf producers.
Output by the 11-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell by 1.06 million barrels per day month-on-month to 16.13 million bpd, the survey found.
That was the lowest monthly figure since at least 2000, according to Reuters surveys, and well below the levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when demand collapsed.
The figures exclude the United Arab Emirates which quit OPEC as of May 1.
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Saudi Arabia had a further decline, although Iraq was able to increase supply due to increased domestic use, sources in the survey said.
Venezuela and Nigeria also pumped more.
Eight members of the OPEC+ producer group, which includes OPEC plus allies including Russia, had agreed to raise production in May, but the Iran war and U.S. blockade made that impossible.
The Reuters survey is based on flow data from financial group LSEG, information from other companies that track flows, such as Kpler, and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants.
Credit – Times of India
Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) shared its experiences in pioneering gas distribution nearly 30 years ago, and identified the expansion of pipeline natural gas infrastructure and the market‑making role of gas distributors as critical in moving gas from a policy aspiration to a practical energy solution for Nigerian industries.
“When SNG started in Agbara–Ota over 20 years ago, demand was nowhere near what it is today,” recalled Managing Director Ralph Gbobo at a panel session on “Building a Bankable Gas Distribution Ecosystem: Infrastructure, Capital and Market Demand” at the 2nd business forum of the Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) in Abuja late last week.
Represented by Head, Gas Distribution, Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi, Raph said: “The economics was not perfect, but there was a leap of faith anchored on Nigeria’s industrialisation trajectory. That decision has proven right.”
He said SNG’s persistence proved that when demand ambition, supply certainty, enabling infrastructure, and commercial clarity come together, even if not perfectly at the start, it creates industrial clusters that can grow and attract long-term capital. “Sustainability and bankability emerge over time, as utilization deepens and confidence builds,” he pointed out.
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The theme of the forum was “From Gas Abundance to Gas Access: Reassessing Nigeria’s Gas Distribution Imperatives,” with industry leaders and other stakeholders discussing the use of gas to drive industrialisation. The panel session agreed on the need for “clear, supportive and credible policy frameworks, especially measures designed to improve the use of gas.
Ralph noted: “The introduction of gas-focused policies, notably the Petroleum Industry Act, marked a turning point. By reinforcing the role of gas in Nigeria’s energy and industrial strategy and embedding instruments such as the Network Code- a critical framework that governs the operations of the Domestic Gas market and ensures transparency and stability, and the Domestic Gas Supply Obligation which compels gas producers to allocate gas to the domestic market, the PIA significantly reduced policy ambiguity around gas development.”
He added: “The introduction of clearer pricing frameworks for gas supply and transportation and a more transparent and competitive licensing regime, has also strengthened market confidence. Together, these measures have improved producer confidence, particularly for domestic gas projects, and signaled the government’s strong commitment to gas as a driver of industrial development.”
Incorporated in 1998 as a fully Shell-owned gas distribution company, SNG currently serves over 150 clients in Abia, Bayelsa, Ogun and Rivers states, partnering with governments and other stakeholders to take the cleaner and more affordable energy to the doorsteps of industries. In the first half of this year alone, the company has connected two additional companies in Ogun State to its gas distribution network.
Photo Caption – L–R: Chairman, Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG), and Managing Director, Axxela Gas Distribution, Kehinde Alabi; and Head of Gas Distribution, Shell Nigeria Gas, Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi, receiving a commendation plaque on behalf of SNG Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo, in recognition of his professional and diligent service on the Governing Board of the Association, at the Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) Business Forum in Abuja
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