By Ado Oyeyemi
Nigerians are facing fresh pressure on household and business expenses as the price of cooking gas rose by 25 per cent to N1,500 per kilogramme from N1,200.
The increase came alongside another rise in the price of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel, with the product selling for as much as N2,300 per litre at some filling stations and depots.
The latest price movements are expected to further increase the cost of living and operating businesses, particularly for households and companies already contending with high energy and transportation expenses.
A mid-day depot price report for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, showed significant increases in diesel prices in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In Lagos, Ibachem recorded the biggest increase among the depots listed, raising its AGO price by N170 from N1,830 to N2,000 per litre.
Ibeto also increased its price by N135, from N1,835 to N1,970 per litre, while Duport and Integrated raised their prices by N110 each to N1,940 per litre.
Ardova increased its diesel price by N20 to N1,970 per litre, while Eterna and Rain Oil sold at N2,000 per litre. Nipco’s price stood at N1,950 per litre.
Similar increases were recorded in Port Harcourt, where African Terminal, Duport and Integrated raised their AGO prices by N110 each to N1,940 per litre.
In Warri, Matrix increased its diesel price by N40, from N2,080 to N2,120 per litre, making it the highest depot price recorded in the report.
The development is likely to raise operating costs for manufacturers, transporters, telecommunications companies and small businesses that rely on diesel-powered generators and vehicles.
However, petrol prices remained relatively stable in Lagos, where the product sold between N1,350 and N1,353 per litre. Some reductions were also recorded in Calabar, where Alkanes cut its price by N17 to N1,338 per litre, while Matrix reduced its price by N10 to N1,355.
Commenting on the development, the Vice-President of the Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Lawal Kamaldeen, said the downstream petroleum sector remained unstable, with prices continuing to fluctuate.
Kamaldeen attributed the volatility to the prolonged United States-Iran conflict and said prices could remain unstable in the coming weeks.
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The latest increases in cooking gas and diesel come amid continued concerns over energy costs, with businesses expected to pass part of the additional expenses to consumers through higher prices of goods and services.
