Petrol prices across Africa continued to vary sharply in September, reflecting differences in domestic production, import dependence, taxation, subsidies, exchange rates and the way governments regulate retail fuel markets.
Data from GlobalPetrolPrices, based on prices recorded on 28 September 2026, places Libya at the bottom of the continental price scale, followed by Angola, Algeria and Egypt. The data refer specifically to Octane-95 petrol and are expressed in US dollars per litre. The global average stood at $1.59 per litre.
The figures illustrate how retail fuel prices are shaped by domestic policy as much as by international crude oil markets. Countries apply different levels of taxation and subsidy, while regulated markets can also insulate consumers from short-term movements in international prices.
For African economies, the implications extend beyond motorists. The World Bank estimates that between 80% and 90% of goods on the continent move by road, while transport costs can account for up to 45% of the final retail price of staples such as maize, rice and cassava. Fuel prices therefore form one component of a much wider logistics and food-price equation.
However, a low pump price does not necessarily indicate lower overall economic costs. Subsidies can reduce the price paid by consumers while transferring part of the cost to government finances. Conversely, countries with higher pump prices may have different fiscal structures, taxation regimes or approaches to fuel-market liberalisation.
Nigeria’s position is particularly significant given its growing domestic refining capacity and changing petroleum-market structure. Its September price of $0.997 per litre remained below the global average, although it was higher than in the previous month’s ranking.
Elsewhere, Namibia’s approach illustrates another route to managing fuel costs. The government selected TotalEnergies to supply about 345.3 million litres of petrol and diesel between November 2026 and January 2027 following a competitive tender. The successful bid included discounts of 71 Namibian cents per litre on petrol and 61 cents on diesel, with estimated government savings of N$220.5 million.
Across the continent, petrol prices reflect a combination of energy resources, public policy, market structures and broader economic conditions rather than a single measure of affordability or economic performance.
