The promise of cheaper petrol for Nigerians remains unfulfilled nearly three weeks after the Dangote Refinery announced a major price reduction, as most partner filling stations continue to sell above the refinery’s advised retail rate.
The refinery had slashed its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to ₦820 per litre under a logistics-free distribution scheme, projecting that motorists in Lagos and the South-West would buy fuel at ₦841 per litre. However, investigations revealed that most stations in the region are still retailing between ₦865 and ₦870, dampening public expectations of relief at the pump.
According to a market survey conducted by Punch, only a few MRS outlets in Lagos implemented the ₦841 price. At one MRS station in Alapere, long queues stretched onto the road as motorists rushed to benefit from the lower rate. Yet, nearby stations, including Heyden and Ardova, maintained prices between ₦863 and ₦870.
In Ogun State, discrepancies persisted. An MRS station in Olowotedo sold at ₦875, while other outlets ignored the refinery’s pricing guidance entirely.
The Dangote Refinery had earlier announced that from September 15, it would deploy over 1,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks to deliver fuel directly nationwide, eliminating logistics costs that often inflate pump prices. The initiative aimed to standardise rates at ₦841 in Lagos and ₦851 in Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara States.
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Despite sightings of Dangote-branded trucks on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, suggesting deliveries had begun, the anticipated reduction in retail prices has not materialised.
A refinery official, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration over marketers’ reluctance to adjust prices.
“It’s unfair to keep selling at old rates. They are receiving the product at ₦820 per litre with free logistics, yet they’re still selling higher. That’s not right,” the source said.
However, the official admitted that the refinery lacked legal authority to enforce retail pricing.
“We can’t compel them to sell at a particular price. Marketers argue the law doesn’t permit us to fix pump prices, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) seems to agree.”
Meanwhile, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has warned that Dangote’s frequent price cuts could destabilise the downstream market.
DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, said:
“Claims that Dangote’s price reductions are patriotic overlook their market impact. These cuts often come when importers have cargoes in transit or in storage, creating price shocks that distort competition.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has also maintained its pump price.
“Our current pump price in Lagos remains ₦865. We have not made any changes,” said Andy Odeh, the NNPCL spokesperson.
Independent marketers, who had earlier pledged to reduce prices once they received Dangote supplies, have yet to deliver on their promise — leaving consumers waiting for long-promised relief at the fuel pumps.