10 Oil-Producing African Countries Selling Petrol Cheaper Than Nigeria

Despite Nigeria being one of the largest crude oil producers on the continent, recent domestic price adjustments and currency flotation have driven retail petrol prices upward, with current pump rates hovering around N1,180 to N1,200 per litre (approximately $0.88 to $0.93 USD per litre).

Across several other oil-producing African nations, state subsidies, localized refining advantages, or heavy government price interventions keep fuel significantly cheaper at the pump for consumers.

Here are 10 oil-producing countries in Africa where petrol costs less per litre than in Nigeria:

1. Libya

Libya consistently offers the cheapest petrol in Africa and one of the lowest prices globally, with rates averaging around $0.024 per litre. Heavy state subsidies keep fuel costs at a fraction of a cent per litre, making energy extremely affordable for its citizens despite political instability in the region.

2. Angola

Angola stands as one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s top crude oil exporters. The Angolan government heavily subsidizes fuel prices at approximately $0.327 per litre to cushion citizens against inflation, keeping retail petrol prices lower than the market-reflective rates seen in Nigeria.

3. Algeria

As a major natural gas and crude oil exporter, Algeria maintains substantial domestic fuel subsidies. The state-owned energy company Sonatrach supplies heavily discounted petrol at around $0.352 per litre to the domestic market, ensuring pump prices remain among the lowest on the continent.

4. Egypt

Egypt produces significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas. Through a state-managed automatic pricing committee, fuel prices are regulated at around $0.475 per litre, keeping rates relatively low compared to West African standards while benefiting from domestic refining capacity.

5. Sudan

Sudan possesses notable oil reserves and domestic refining infrastructure. Despite economic challenges, state-controlled pricing structures keep retail petrol costs at reasonable levels compared to international benchmarks, with prices averaging around $0.700 per litre.

6. Tunisia

Tunisia maintains a state-managed price stabilization system that caps retail energy costs at approximately $0.852 per litre, keeping pump prices lower than post-subsidy rates in Nigeria.

7. Niger

Niger produces crude oil and refines petroleum products locally at its Zinder refinery. Domestic processing helps protect local consumers from external price shocks, keeping petrol at roughly $0.870 per litre.

8. Equatorial Guinea

With its vast offshore oil reserves and small population, Equatorial Guinea benefits from localized petroleum wealth. The government controls pump pricing, providing subsidized fuel to the domestic market at approximately $0.890 per litre.

9. Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)

Congo-Brazzaville is a key oil-producing nation in Central Africa. Government price caps on refined petroleum products ensure that retail prices at service stations remain stable at roughly $0.910 per litre, keeping rates lower than Nigeria’s current market averages.

10. Chad

Although a landlocked nation, Chad produces its own crude oil and refines a portion of it domestically at the Djarmaya refinery. Local refining helps insulate local consumers from international market volatility, maintaining pump prices at around $0.847 to $0.920 per litre.

Where Nigeria Stands

Following deregulation, subsidy removal, and recent refinery gantry price revisions, petrol in Nigeria trades at an average of N1,180 to N1,200 ($0.88 to $0.93 USD) per litre. While this places Nigeria well below the global average of $1.50 per litre, it remains higher than several peer oil-exporting nations in Africa that maintain direct state subsidies or fixed pricing regimes.