Confusion In Oil Sector: Why Nigerians Pay ₦865/Litre Even With Dangote’s Free Delivery

Nearly three weeks after the Dangote Refinery reduced its ex-depot petrol price to ₦820 per litre under a logistics-free delivery scheme, many of its partner filling stations have yet to reflect the cut at their pumps.

The refinery had projected that motorists in Lagos and the South-West would buy petrol at ₦841 per litre, but a survey by Punch revealed that most stations still sell between ₦865 and ₦870.

Only a few MRS outlets in Lagos have adjusted their prices to ₦841. At the Alapere station, long queues of motorists stretched far outside as buyers rushed to benefit from the lower rate. Yet, along the same axis, several stations maintained ₦865, while in Ogun State, an MRS outlet in Olowotedo sold for ₦875. Heyden charged ₦863, while Ardova and others stuck to ₦865–₦870.

The refinery had earlier announced that from September 15, over 1,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks would distribute fuel nationwide to eliminate logistics costs. This was expected to lower pump prices to ₦841 in Lagos and ₦851 in Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara states. But weeks later, motorists are still waiting for relief.

Sunday Punch sighted several Dangote trucks along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, confirming that deliveries had begun.

A source at the refinery, who spoke anonymously, said many marketers had already received supplies at ₦820 with free logistics but were reluctant to adjust their pump 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 official said.

However, the source admitted that the refinery could not enforce pricing:

“We can’t compel marketers. At best, we can recommend, but the law doesn’t permit us to fix pump prices — and the NMDPRA seems to agree with that position.”

Not all industry players support Dangote’s approach. The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) argued that the refinery’s frequent price cuts destabilise the market.

DAPPMAN Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, said:

“Claims that Dangote’s repeated price reductions are patriotic overlook their timing and impact. These cuts often come when other importers already have cargoes in transit or in storage, creating shocks that distort competition and strain market participants, including the refinery’s own domestic customers.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has not revised its pump price.

NNPCL spokesperson, Andy Odeh, confirmed:

“Our current pump price in Lagos remains ₦865. We have not made any changes.”

Independent marketers had earlier promised to slash prices once they received Dangote’s supplies. But as of Sunday, pump prices across most stations remained unchanged.