Nigerians Are Enjoying: Okpebholo Compares Fuel Prices in UK and Nigeria

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has come under criticism after comparing petrol prices in Nigeria with those in the United Kingdom and saying Nigerians are “enjoying” the current cost of fuel.

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

The governor said he visited a filling station during a recent trip to London to compare the price of petrol with what Nigerians pay at home.

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

He added that Nigerians were paying less and praised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the economy.

The comparison has drawn criticism, particularly over whether converting the UK pump price directly into Naira gives a fair picture of what consumers in both countries can actually afford.

Petrol is currently selling at about N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with prices reaching about N1,500 in some parts of the country, according to Reuters. The latest increases have added to existing cost-of-living pressures on households and businesses.

In the UK, petrol was averaging about £1.74 per litre on September 24, putting the nominal naira value above N3,000 depending on the exchange rate used. On that narrow comparison, petrol costs more per litre in Britain.

But critics of the governor’s argument point to the large difference in earnings between both countries.

From April 2026, the statutory National Living Wage in the UK for workers aged 21 and above is £12.71 per hour.

That makes pump price alone an incomplete measure of affordability, since wages, transport costs, taxation, exchange rates and household income all affect how much strain fuel places on consumers.

Okpebholo also defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, describing the current difficulties as part of a transition that would eventually stabilize the economy.

He likened the reforms to an aircraft taking off, saying passengers are only served when the plane reaches cruising altitude.

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

His remarks come at a time when Nigerians are facing another sharp rise in petrol prices, with higher fuel costs feeding into transport fares and the prices of goods and services.

The governor’s comments have since fueled debate over whether international price comparisons should be made without considering differences in income and purchasing power.