Dangote Petroleum Refinery has begun selling petrol across Nigeria at a fixed price of ₦739 per litre at MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations nationwide, a development that could reshape the country’s fuel market and ease pressure on consumers this festive season.
The new pricing structure applies to more than 2,000 MRS stations spread throughout Nigeria and is part of the refinery’s broader objective to make fuel more affordable and stable for households, transport operators, and businesses.
In a statement released by the company, the refinery encouraged other marketers to adopt the same pricing approach and praised those who had already complied.
“We commend MRS and other marketers who have demonstrated patriotism by reflecting the reduced price at the pump. We call on others to join this effort as a show of support for Nigeria’s economic recovery,” the company said in its announcement.
This intervention by Dangote comes at a time when fuel prices in Nigeria have in recent years been subject to significant volatility, often rising sharply during peak travel seasons or in response to changes in global oil markets. The move to establish a stable, lower price directly from a domestic refinery is an important shift in how petrol is priced and distributed.
Historically, the holiday period, referred to locally as ember months, has been synonymous with fuel scarcity and higher pump prices, as traders and distributors struggle to meet demand. But Dangote’s initiative aims to break that cycle by ensuring a steady daily supply of up to 50 million litres of petrol, reportedly sufficient to cover all regions of the country.
The refinery also issued a warning to operators who might try to undermine the price reduction by withholding supply or selling petrol at inflated rates.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable. We urge regulatory authorities to remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period,” the statement added.
Consumers were advised to compare prices and report any station that sells above ₦739 per litre by contacting designated hotlines run by the refinery.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid buying PMS at excessively high prices when they can access high-quality, locally refined fuel at ₦739 per litre from over 2,000 MRS stations nationwide. Any MRS station selling above this price should be reported via 0800 123 5264,” the company said.
Dangote also urged other petrol station operators to source products from the refinery to make sure the benefits of price reductions reach many more communities.
“Our objective remains clear: to ensure consistent supply of high-quality petroleum products at affordable prices for Nigerians, while supporting economic stability and reducing dependence on imports,” the refinery concluded in its statement.
This concerted effort to lower petrol prices comes amid broader debates in Nigeria about energy security, currency stability, and the role of local refining versus fuel imports. Dangote’s move leverages local refining capacity to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, conserve scarce foreign exchange, and potentially stabilise the value of the naira by keeping petrodollars within the local economy.
However, some industry observers have noted that lower prices at the pump do not automatically translate to immediate relief in all sectors of the economy. Recent commentary suggested that despite the price cut, living costs in markets and transportation fares have not yet shown significant declines, pointing to complex economic pressures beyond fuel pricing alone.
Overall, Dangote’s petrol pricing initiative at ₦739 per litre represents a bold attempt to offer more predictable fuel costs, curb speculative price hikes, and strengthen local refining’s role in Nigeria’s energy landscape.
