A report claiming that petrol prices have reached ₦1,900 per litre in Nigeria has been corrected after it emerged that the figure referred to diesel rather than petrol.
Vanguard newspaper reportedly issued an apology on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after publishing an erroneous report suggesting that the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, had risen to ₦1,900 per litre.
In its clarification, the newspaper acknowledged that the figure was mistakenly attributed to petrol, explaining that the price referred to Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel.
The correction is important because petrol and diesel are different petroleum products with separate pricing structures.
What Is the Actual Situation?
Although the ₦1,900 figure was incorrectly linked to petrol in the report, petrol prices in Nigeria remain high and vary across locations and filling stations.
Reports published on October 10 indicated that petrol was selling for between ₦1,370 and ₦1,410 per litre in Abuja and surrounding areas.
The Federal Government had also announced a temporary petrol discount arrangement at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) retail stations.
Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele explained that the arrangement involved NNPC Retail reducing or temporarily foregoing part of its retail profit margin to provide relief to consumers, rather than the government paying the difference from public funds.
According to the government, the measure was intended to ease the burden of rising fuel costs without restoring the former petrol subsidy regime.
Verdict: Misleading Claim
The claim that petrol had reached ₦1,900 per litre, as presented in the erroneous report, is misleading.
The ₦1,900 figure referred to diesel, not petrol, according to the newspaper’s subsequent clarification.
However, this correction does not mean petrol is cheap. Pump prices remain elevated, and the actual amount motorists pay depends on their location, supplier, and filling station.
Consumers and publishers are therefore advised to distinguish between petrol and diesel prices and verify fuel-price reports before sharing them.
