Okpebholo Says Nigerians Paying N1,400 For Petrol Are Better Off Than UK Motorists.

 

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has said Nigerians buying petrol at about N1,400 per litre are paying less than motorists in the United Kingdom, where he claimed a litre of fuel costs more than N3,000.

Okpebholo made the remarks on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event in Edo State.

The governor said he visited London the previous week and used the opportunity to compare petrol prices in the UK with those in Nigeria.

“Let me tell you, after conversion, it’s about N3,000-something for one litre of fuel,” Okpebholo said.

He said the comparison showed that Nigerians were paying less for petrol than motorists in the UK.

“We are doing very well here. The President is stabilising the economy. He’s an economist,” he said, referring to President Bola Tinubu.

However, current UK government data show that the average UK retail price for unleaded petrol was 172.01 pence per litre for the week beginning September 21, 2026. The figure is the latest weekly national average published by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

At that weekly average, the naira equivalent would depend on the prevailing pound-to-naira exchange rate. Therefore, the governor’s N3,000-plus figure represents a currency conversion rather than a uniform pump price across all UK filling stations.

Okpebholo’s comments come amid continuing concerns over the cost of petrol and other essential commodities in Nigeria following the removal of the petrol subsidy and subsequent changes in pump prices.

The governor defended the economic reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration, describing them as difficult measures that would eventually produce results.

“I want to let you know, very soon Nigeria will be on the cruising level. Nigeria will be on a cruising level,” he said.