The maritime hub of Lagos is witnessing heightened activity as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reports that 16 ships are currently awaiting berthing at its ports. Among these vessels, seven are carrying assorted containerized goods, while others are laden with bulk commodities such as clinker, wheat, fish, sugar, gas, and petrol.
Additionally, three ships are queued up to discharge petrol, indicating a significant influx of maritime traffic in the region.
Meanwhile, in a separate economic development, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has released its latest findings on kerosene prices.
According to the report, the average price of kerosene experienced a slight decline from N1,362.27 in December 2023 to N1,329.53 in January 2024. Despite this month-on-month decrease, the year-on-year analysis reveals a notable 15.27 per cent increase in kerosene prices.
Digging deeper into the data, the NBS highlights regional disparities in kerosene pricing across Nigeria. Kaduna emerges with the highest average price per liter of kerosene at N1,833.33, whereas Bayelsa records the lowest at N969.70. Similarly, the North-Central region reports the highest average retail price per liter of kerosene at N1,479.10, while the South-South region registers the lowest at N1,225.83.
Furthermore, the report reveals fluctuations in the average retail price per gallon of kerosene, which stood at N4,870.83 in January 2024, reflecting a 7.53 per cent increase from the previous month. On an annual basis, this represents a substantial 25.34 per cent surge in kerosene prices.
Statewise, Adamawa tops the list with the highest average retail price per gallon at N6,083.33, while Delta reports the lowest at N4,000.00. Regionally, the North-East region leads with the highest average price per gallon of kerosene at N5,526.39, whereas the South-East region records the lowest at N4,508.51.
These developments underscore the dynamic economic landscape in Nigeria, with both maritime and energy sectors experiencing notable shifts in pricing and activity levels.
