Commercial transport operators pass PMS costs directly to passengers and shippers. Intra-city, intercity, and last-mile freight fares have risen sharply since the May 2023 subsidy removal, disproportionately affecting low-income commuters and rural communities with no alternatives.

PMS is embedded throughout Nigeria's food supply chain — powering irrigation pumps, farm machinery, market trucks and cold-chain logistics. Nigeria's food inflation peaked at 40.87% in March 2024, the highest in nearly three decades, with fuel cost pass-through a primary driver.

An estimated 25 million generators are in daily use across Nigeria, serving households and businesses that cannot rely on the national grid. The 5.6× increase in generator fuel cost since 2022 has effectively reduced real access to electricity for millions of Nigerians.

SMEs account for approximately 50% of Nigeria's GDP and 80% of employment. Energy — primarily diesel and PMS — constitutes an estimated 20–40% of SME operating costs. Rising fuel prices have forced many micro-enterprises to cut output, reduce hours, or shut down entirely.

Beyond transport and generators, PMS powers motorcycles (primary rural mobility), water pumps, and petrol-fuelled appliances. Urban and peri-urban households face compounded cost pressure across food, energy, and transport — all of which are indexed to the pump price of PMS.