VERDICT: FALSE
Viral messages claiming Nigeria's government announced new petroleum surcharges ranging from N50 to N150 per litre are completely fabricated. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) issued an official denial, stating no such surcharge exists. Multiple Nigerian fact-checking organizations including TheCable FactCheck, Africa Check, and Dubawa have rated the claims FALSE. The hoax caused unnecessary panic buying at fuel stations across several states.
In late 2024 and early 2025, viral WhatsApp messages and social media posts spread across Nigeria claiming the federal government had introduced a new "petroleum surcharge" that would significantly increase fuel prices. The messages, often formatted to appear official, cited fake government memos and non-existent regulatory announcements.
This report examines the false claims, documents official government denials, analyzes the economic context that made Nigerians susceptible to such misinformation, and traces how the hoax spread across social media platforms. We found zero evidence of any new petroleum surcharge being announced or implemented.
The Viral Claims
Multiple versions of the false claim circulated across Nigerian social media platforms, primarily through WhatsApp broadcasts and Facebook posts. The messages typically included: [1]
- Claims of a new "Environmental Petroleum Surcharge" of N50-N150 per litre
- Fake government memo headers with official-looking letterheads
- References to non-existent regulatory directives
- Urgent warnings to "buy fuel now before prices increase"
- False implementation dates (often "effective immediately")
The messages exploited Nigerians' legitimate concerns about fuel prices following the subsidy removal in May 2023, which had already caused significant price increases. [10]
| Claim | Verdict | Verified By |
|---|---|---|
| NNPCL announced N50-N150 petroleum surcharge | FALSE | TheCable, Africa Check |
| Government memo on "Environmental Petroleum Surcharge" | FABRICATED | NNPCL Official Statement |
| NMDPRA directive on new fuel levy | FALSE | NMDPRA Denial |
| Fuel prices will increase "immediately" | FALSE | Dubawa, FactCheck Hub |
| Surcharge funds "road maintenance" | FABRICATED | No official policy exists |
Official Government Denials
Multiple Nigerian government agencies issued categorical denials of the petroleum surcharge claims: [5]
NNPCL Statement
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) released an official statement denouncing the viral messages:
"The attention of NNPC Ltd has been drawn to fake news circulating on social media about an alleged petroleum surcharge. We wish to categorically state that this information is FALSE and should be disregarded. NNPC Ltd has not announced any such surcharge and urges Nigerians to rely only on official communication channels."
The statement was published on NNPCL's official website and verified social media accounts. [3]
NMDPRA Response
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) also issued a denial, confirming that no regulatory directive on additional fuel surcharges had been issued. [4]
Presidency Clarification
The State House issued a statement urging Nigerians to "disregard false information about fuel pricing" and confirmed that any legitimate policy changes would be communicated through official government channels. [16]
How to verify fuel price information in Nigeria:
- Check the official NNPCL website
- Follow verified NNPCL social media accounts (@aboraborba on X)
- Consult the NMDPRA portal
- Check Nigerian fact-checkers: TheCable, Africa Check, Dubawa
Nigerian Fact-Checker Investigations
Several Nigerian fact-checking organizations independently investigated and debunked the petroleum surcharge claims:
TheCable FactCheck
TheCable FactCheck, one of Nigeria's leading fact-checking organizations and a member of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), investigated the claim thoroughly. Their conclusion: [1]
"After thorough verification with NNPCL, NMDPRA, and analysis of the purported documents, TheCable FactCheck rates this claim as FALSE. There is no new petroleum surcharge. The circulating documents are fabricated."
Africa Check
Africa Check, the continent's first independent fact-checking organization, also investigated the claims as part of Meta's third-party fact-checking programme: [2]
Their investigation found that:
- The memo formats did not match official government templates
- Referenced regulatory numbers did not exist
- No official announcement appeared on government websites
- NNPCL confirmed the claims were fabricated
Dubawa
Dubawa, West Africa's first indigenous fact-checking platform, similarly rated the claim as FALSE, noting that the viral messages appeared designed to cause panic. [12]
Why Nigerians Were Vulnerable
The hoax gained traction because it exploited real economic anxieties. Since President Bola Tinubu's subsidy removal announcement on May 29, 2023, Nigerians have experienced significant fuel price increases: [10]
The Subsidy Context
Key economic factors that made the hoax believable:
- Pre-subsidy price: N185-N195 per litre
- Post-subsidy price (June 2023): N488-N557 per litre
- Current price range: N850-N1,200+ per litre depending on location
- Inflation impact: Transportation costs driving food prices higher
This 400%+ increase in fuel prices over 18 months created fertile ground for misinformation. Many Nigerians have become conditioned to expect further price increases. [11]
This hoax follows a common pattern in Nigerian misinformation:
- Timing: Often appears before holidays or during price volatility
- Format: Uses official-looking letterheads and memo formats
- Distribution: Spreads primarily through WhatsApp broadcast lists
- Urgency: Creates artificial deadlines ("effective immediately")
- Impact: Causes panic buying, creating actual shortages
Similar petroleum-related hoaxes have circulated multiple times since 2020. [14]
How the Hoax Spread
Analysis of the misinformation's spread pattern reveals coordinated amplification across multiple platforms: [7]
Platform Distribution
- WhatsApp: Primary vector - broadcast lists and group chats
- Facebook: Shared widely on Nigerian community groups
- Twitter/X: Screenshots of WhatsApp messages amplified
- TikTok: Videos warning of price increases with false information
Real-World Consequences
The hoax caused measurable real-world harm: [8]
- Panic buying at fuel stations in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and other cities
- Long queues reminiscent of actual fuel scarcity periods
- Black market prices temporarily spiked in some areas
- Social unrest fears prompted security deployment at some stations
The Nigeria petroleum surcharge claim is completely FALSE. Our investigation found:
- Zero evidence of any new petroleum surcharge being announced
- Official denials from NNPCL, NMDPRA, and the Presidency
- Unanimous "FALSE" ratings from all major Nigerian fact-checkers
- Fabricated documents that do not match official government formats
The hoax exploited legitimate economic anxieties following the 2023 subsidy removal but was designed to cause panic and confusion. Nigerians should verify fuel pricing information only through official government channels and accredited fact-checking organizations.
Recommendations
To combat petroleum-related misinformation in Nigeria:
- Before sharing: Check NNPCL and NMDPRA official websites
- Question urgency: "Effective immediately" claims are red flags
- Verify documents: Compare formats with known official memos
- Report hoaxes: Flag false content on social media platforms
- Consult fact-checkers: TheCable, Africa Check, Dubawa actively monitor these claims
For accurate fuel price information, visit NNPCL's official website or follow verified government social media accounts.