Several filling stations and petroleum marketers affiliated with the Dangote Refinery have temporarily ceased operations in the wake of a recent drop in petrol prices by the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery.
According to DAILY POST, MRS filling stations along the Kubwa Expressway in Abuja and other outlets have not dispensed fuel for the past five days, following Dangote Refinery’s announcement on Tuesday, April 16, 2025, that it had reduced its ex-depot petrol price to N835 per litre.
A staff member at one MRS station, speaking anonymously, revealed that the shutdown was due to financial losses from unsold old stock purchased at higher prices.
“It’s because of Dangote’s latest price drop,” the source said. “We still have old stock that we can’t sell at a loss. That’s why we’ve been closed since Tuesday. We may resume operations on Tuesday.”
Another official attributed the closure to ongoing maintenance work, stating, “The station has been undergoing minor maintenance. We’ll reopen by Tuesday and start selling at the new price of N910 per litre.”
Meanwhile, other Dangote-affiliated marketers such as AP, Ardova, and Optima were seen dispensing fuel at prices between N910 and N920 per litre across Abuja as of Monday, April 21, 2025.
In response to the disruptions, Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), criticized the unpredictable price changes, warning that they are harmful to both businesses and the broader economy.
“Sudden fluctuations in fuel prices, especially without clear economic justification, affect the purchasing power of retailers and marketers,” Gillis-Harry said. “This level of uncertainty is not sustainable for the downstream sector or the Nigerian economy.”
He previously advocated for a six-month fuel price stability plan to curb price volatility.
Similarly, Chinedu Ukadike, spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), noted that marketers with existing fuel stock are facing billions in losses due to Dangote’s price adjustment.
The latest price cut marks the second time in less than two weeks that the $20 billion Dangote Refinery has slashed its fuel price. On April 10, the refinery dropped its gantry price to N865 per litre, followed by a further reduction to N835 per litre.
These price adjustments come amid a continued federal government push to maintain the naira-for-crude initiative, which supports domestic refining, and a decline in global crude prices to around $66 per barrel.
In reaction to the new market dynamics, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) also revised its pump price, offering petrol at N935 per litre to customers in Abuja.
Currently, petrol is sold between N890 and N950 per litre nationwide, depending on the region.
