The cost of food, transport and other services has also gone up.

In addition, the government is considering proposals to raise civil service salaries.

Frustrations about the rise in the cost of living are building. President Bola Tinubu - now in office for nearly two months - wants to be seen as addressing the crisis.

Along with other measures, his administration plans to give out cash to poor families, but first wants to create a new register of those who are eligible to benefit from the programme.

There are also proposals to deploy electric buses and cars as well as vehicles powered by compressed natural gas to reduce the cost of transportation.

Labour unions have criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy without measures to mitigate rising prices.

Last month, the unions and the government agreed on an eight-week timeline to raise the minimum wage for government workers.