Nearly three weeks after the Dangote Refinery began supplying petrol at N820 per litre with free delivery, most filling stations across the country have yet to reduce their pump prices.
Findings by The PUNCH on Sunday showed that Heyden, AP, MRS, and other major marketers still sell petrol at N865 per litre, despite benefiting from the refinery’s logistics-free fuel distribution scheme.
Only a few MRS stations in Lagos adjusted their prices to N841 per litre, leading to long queues as motorists rushed to buy cheaper petrol. In contrast, other outlets in the same area continued to sell at higher prices. Some stations even charged more — with MRS in Olowotedo, Ogun State, selling at N875, Heyden at N863, and others between N865 and N870 per litre.
Under the refinery’s new pricing plan, motorists in Lagos and South-West states were expected to pay N841 per litre, while those in Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara were to buy at N851 per litre.
The refinery had launched over 1,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to deliver petrol directly nationwide, a move meant to cut logistics costs and reduce fuel prices.
However, the expected price relief has not been seen. Some marketers claimed they were still selling old stock bought at higher prices. “We will adjust once the new supplies reach our tanks,” one marketer said.
But a Dangote Refinery official disagreed, insisting that most marketers had already received new stock and had “no justification” for keeping prices high.
“It’s unfair to keep selling at old rates. They are receiving the product at N820 per litre with free logistics, yet they’re still selling higher. That’s not right,” the source said.
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The official added that the refinery could not force marketers to lower prices.
“We can’t compel them. It’s only a recommendation since marketers say the law does not allow us to fix pump prices, and NMDPRA agrees,” the source noted.
Meanwhile, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has criticised Dangote’s frequent price cuts, saying they cause market instability.
DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, said: “Claims that repeated fuel price reductions by the Dangote Refinery are patriotic overlook their timing and market impact. These cuts often come when other importers have active cargoes, creating price shocks and financial strain.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) also confirmed that it has not adjusted its prices.
“Our current pump price in Lagos remains N865. We have not made any changes,” NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh said.
Although independent marketers earlier promised to review prices once they received supplies from Dangote, they have yet to do so, leaving motorists frustrated as petrol prices remain unchanged.