Despite the Dangote Refinery supplying petrol to marketers at N820 per litre — and waiving logistics costs — most of its partners have yet to reduce pump prices at their filling stations.
A survey by The PUNCH on Sunday revealed that major partners such as Heyden, AP, and MRS continue to sell petrol at around N865 per litre.
Only a few MRS outlets in Lagos have made adjustments, with prices dropping slightly to N841 per litre. This led to long queues at the MRS station in Alapere, where motorists rushed to buy at the reduced rate, while nearby stations still sold for N865.
At other locations, however, prices remain high. For instance, the MRS station in Olowotedo, along the Mowe–Ibafo axis of Ogun State, sold petrol for N875 per litre. Heyden sold at N863, while Ardova and other brands maintained prices between N865 and N870.
Earlier, Dangote had partnered with several marketers — including Conoil, Eterna, Golden Super, Nepal Energies, Kifayat Global Energy, and Riquest and Gas — under a logistics-free fuel distribution scheme.
The refinery had announced that from Monday, September 15, pump prices would drop as it deployed over 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks to deliver fuel directly across Nigeria. This plan was aimed at reducing logistics costs and cutting the ex-depot price to N820 per litre, resulting in lower retail prices.
Under the arrangement, motorists in Lagos and other South-West states were expected to pay N841 per litre, while those in Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara would buy at N851 per litre. The adjustment was to take effect immediately, with wider implementation as more CNG trucks were rolled out.
Nearly three weeks later, however, the expected relief has not materialised, as most stations continue to sell at old prices.
Correspondents from The PUNCH confirmed sighting several Dangote CNG trucks along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, indicating that direct deliveries had indeed commenced.
Some marketers defended their current pricing, saying they were still selling old stock purchased at higher costs. They assured that prices would be reviewed downward once the new stock reached their tanks.
However, a Dangote Refinery source dismissed this explanation, stating that most marketers had already received new supplies.
“It’s unfair to keep selling at old rates. They’re getting the product at N820 per litre with free delivery, yet they’re still selling higher. That’s not right,” the source said anonymously.
The source added that while the refinery could recommend pump prices, it could not legally enforce them.
“We can’t compel them. The law doesn’t permit us to fix pump prices, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) agrees,” the official noted.
“Those who submitted their station lists are already receiving supplies. We would have covered more ground if not for the PENGASSAN issue, but we expect better coverage this new week. Marketers must remember Nigerians are watching — that’s why there are queues at MRS in Alapere,” the source added.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders have expressed concerns about Dangote’s frequent price changes. The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) criticised the refinery’s pricing strategy, claiming it disrupts market stability.
According to DAPPMAN Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, portraying these price cuts as patriotic acts ignores their wider economic impact.
“Claims that repeated fuel price reductions by the Dangote Refinery are patriotic overlook their timing and market effect. These cuts often come when other importers have active cargoes at sea or in tanks, causing price shocks that distort competition and strain market players — including Dangote’s own customers,” Adewole said.
Since beginning petrol production over a year ago, the Dangote Refinery has effectively become the market’s main price trendsetter, overtaking the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in that role.
However, NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh stated that the company had not adjusted its prices:
“Our current pump price in Lagos remains N865. We have not made any changes,” he confirmed.
Independent marketers had previously promised to lower their prices once they began receiving supplies from Dangote, but as of Sunday, no significant reductions had been implemented.
