Fuel marketers across Nigeria have resumed lifting petrol and diesel from private depots after a disruption that lasted for nearly a week, easing concerns that the country could experience another fuel shortage.
The temporary pause in loading operations followed fresh price adjustments in the downstream petroleum sector. During the period, several filling stations slowed down or stopped selling petrol, leaving many motorists worried about the possibility of another nationwide scarcity.
However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has assured Nigerians that fuel remains available and that the interruption was only a short-term response to changing market prices.
According to IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, depot operators temporarily halted loading so they could review their stock, update their prices, and calculate additional payments required from marketers who had already paid for fuel before the latest increase.
This additional payment, commonly called a “top-up,” allows marketers to make up the price difference before collecting their products. Ukadike explained that while marketers are expected to pay extra whenever prices increase, depot owners do not usually refund buyers if prices later fall.
He stressed that loading has now resumed at private depots, adding that marketers are simply being cautious because fuel prices remain unstable. Global concerns, including tensions in the Middle East, have continued to create uncertainty in international oil markets, making local fuel prices difficult to predict.
Ukadike also commented on the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s new policy of selling petrol in U.S. dollars. While he confirmed that fuel supplied through offshore and coastal deliveries is expected to be paid for in dollars, he said he had not received confirmation that marketers collecting products directly from the refinery’s loading gantry in Lagos had begun making dollar payments.
Meanwhile, depot prices continued to climb across Lagos.
Several major private depots increased the ex-depot price of petrol by about ₦25 per litre, bringing the average loading price to approximately ₦1,275 per litre. These increases affected many leading depots, reflecting continued pressure on the fuel distribution market.
Outside Lagos, prices were less uniform.
In Port Harcourt, some depots maintained their previous prices, while others slightly reduced their rates to remain competitive. Similar mixed pricing was recorded in Calabar and Warri, where a few operators lowered prices while others introduced modest increases.
Diesel prices also moved upward in several locations.
Many depots in Lagos increased diesel loading prices to around ₦1,600 per litre, while operators in Port Harcourt and Warri also recorded small increases. Although the changes were not as sharp as those seen in petrol prices, they added to the overall cost of fuel distribution.
Industry observers believe the latest adjustments show that Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market remains highly sensitive to policy changes and international market conditions. The Dangote Refinery’s move to dollar-based pricing has introduced a new layer of uncertainty that continues to influence depot operations and fuel costs across the country.
While loading activities have resumed and fears of an immediate fuel shortage have eased, consumers are still feeling the impact through higher pump prices. Analysts say fuel importers may also benefit from the changing market, as the competition between imported fuel and locally refined products continues to shape pricing nationwide.
For motorists and businesses, the coming weeks will be closely watched as marketers adjust to the new pricing system and the fuel market searches for greater stability.
