The National Bureau of Statistics report for March shows that residents in Yobe, Bayelsa and Enugu States bought fuel at the highest price compared to others

|  By Anayo Ezugwu  |  May 1, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT  |

RESIDENTS of Yobe, Bayelsa and Enugu States paid the highest price to purchase premium motor spirit, fondly called petrol in March. The average price of petrol paid in the states, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, are Yobe (N161.7), Bayelsa (N161.3) and Enugu (154.5), respectively.

The NBS report for the month of March stated that an average price paid by consumers for petrol increased by 10.1 percent year-on-year and decreased by -0.3 percent month-on-month to N149.4 in March 2017 from N149.8 in February 2017. The bureau noted that states with the lowest average price of petrol were Oyo (N145.7), Osun, Kwara, Kano, Gombe, Ekiti, Delta and Abuja (N145) and Ogun (N144.9).

According to the NBS, average price per litre paid by consumers for kerosene decreased by 11.59 percent month-on-month and increased by 39.50 percent year-on-year to N311.56 in March 2017 from N352.42 in February 2017. “States with the highest average price per litre of kerosene were Taraba (N347.22), Plateau (N340.48) and Cross River (399.71). States with the lowest average price per litre of kerosene were Gombe (N273.81), Zamfara (N271.57) and Oyo (N267.54).

“Similarly, average price per gallon paid by consumers for kerosene decreased by 14.15 percent month-on-month and increased by 53.84 percent year-on-year to N1,172.78 in March 2017 from N1,366.08 in February 2017.  States with the highest average price per gallon of kerosene were Kebbi (N1,376.92), Sokoto (N1,350) & Borno (1,338.89). States with the lowest average price per litre of kerosene were Anambra (N1,000.91), Oyo (N996.67) and Ebonyi (N967.86).”

The report published on Thursday, April 13, on the NBS website stated that an average price paid by consumers for diesel decreased by 5.94 percent month-on-month and increased by 60.44 percent year-on-year to N234.55 in March 2017 from N249.38 in February 2017. The report noted that states with the highest average price of diesel were Kwara (N263.57), Kogi (N260) and Abuja (255). While states with the lowest average price of diesel were Bayelsa (N205.56), Plateau (N209.17) and Rivers (N212.14).

On cooking gas, the report said the average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder decreased by 7.93 percent month-on-month and increased by 35.57 percent year-on-year to N2,493.59 in March 2017 from N2,708.38 in February 2017. “States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Zamfara, Plateau and Adamawa (N2,700.00), Borno and Gombe (N2,650) and Abuja and Bayelsa (2,600). States with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder were Sokoto (N2,300), Katsina (N2,278.57) and Jigawa and Kaduna (N2,250).

“Similarly, average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder decreased by 7.90 percent month-on-month and increased by 33.27 percent year-on-year to N4,923.47 in March 2017 from N5,345.87 in February 2017. States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder were Yobe (N5,500.00), Benue (N5,250) and Sokoto (5,200.00). States with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder were Lagos (N4,676.19), Ogun (N4,636.36) and Ebonyi and Kano (N4,650).”

On the transport fare watch for the month under review, the NBS report said Abuja, Cross River and Katsina States residents paid the highest bus journey fare within city in March. It sated that while residents of Abuja paid N262.50, people in Cross River and Katsina states paid N209.09 and N196.67 respectively.

The report also stated that states with lowest bus journey fare within city were Borno (N58.00), Yobe (N60) and Enugu (N72.63) states.

The NBS noted that the transport fare watch report for March 2017 covers various categories including bus journey within the city per drop constant route ; bus journey intercity, state route, charge per person; air fare charge for specified routes single journey; journey by motorcycle (okada) per drop; and water way passenger transport.

“Average fare paid by commuters for bus journey within the city increased by 3.96 percent month-on-month,” the bureau said.

—  May 1, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT

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