Petrol prices across West Africa show significant disparity in 2025, with Nigeria offering the lowest cost at $0.55 or ₦870 per litre. Despite ending fuel subsidies in 2023, Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity, especially the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery, has helped stabilize domestic pump prices.
In sharp contrast, fuel-import-dependent nations like Mali and Sierra Leone continue to face elevated prices, exacerbated by weak currencies and heavy reliance on refined imports. This widening price gap is reshaping household spending and regional fuel trade dynamics.
West African Petrol Prices – As of 26 May 2025
| Country | Price per litre (USD) | Price per litre (NGN) |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | $0.55 | ₦870 |
| Liberia | $1.34 | ₦2,123.51 |
| Togo | $1.65 | ₦2,614.77 |
| Benin | $1.66 | ₦2,630.62 |
| Ivory Coast | $2.13 | ₦3,375.43 |
| Burkina Faso | $2.11 | ₦3,343.74 |
| Mali | $2.52 | ₦3,993.47 |
| Senegal | $2.31 | ₦3,660.68 |
| Sierra Leone | $2.38 | ₦3,771.61 |
| Ghana | $2.02 | ₦3,201.11 |
| Guinea | $2.21 | ₦3,502.21 |
Why Nigeria Leads in Affordability
Nigeria’s growing self-sufficiency in fuel production has cushioned the domestic market from global volatility. The Dangote Refinery’s ramp-up to 60% capacity means less reliance on expensive imports. This efficiency, combined with a deregulated pricing regime, helps stabilize costs for end-users.
Meanwhile, neighbors like Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso—lacking refining infrastructure—continue to import nearly all their refined fuel. This keeps their prices high, especially when compounded by local currency devaluation and high logistics costs.
Currency Pressures and Policy Gaps Widen Disparities
Across the region, countries with weaker currencies have seen pump prices rise, especially those paying for imports in U.S. dollars. Ghana, for example, remains above $2/litre despite recent fuel policy reforms.
Sierra Leone and Mali, both grappling with inflation and fiscal constraints, continue to record some of the highest fuel prices in sub-Saharan Africa, crossing the ₦2,600 mark per litre in naira terms.
Looking Ahead
As domestic consumption grows, countries like Ghana and Senegal are exploring refinery upgrades, while Nigeria focuses on sustaining local supply and distribution. Unless West Africa scales up refining infrastructure or improves FX liquidity, the divide in affordability may persist, making Nigeria an outlier in regional energy pricing.