By Business Desk
In what could redefine Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery has announced a reduction in fuel pump prices across the country while unveiling September 15, 2025, as the official date for the commencement of its direct petrol distribution initiative.
The refinery, Africa’s largest with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, said the new scheme would see premium motor spirit (PMS) and diesel delivered directly to consumers at zero logistics cost using its 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks.
According to the latest price template released on the company’s verified X account, Dangote Refinery pegged its new gantry price at N820 per litre, maintaining last month’s benchmark figure. The new retail prices reflect significant cuts across major states and regions:
Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti: N841 per litre (down from N860).
Abuja, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Kwara: N851 per litre (down from N885).
This translates to a reduction of N19 per litre in the South-West and N34 per litre in Abuja, the North-Central, and the South-South, signaling relief for millions of Nigerians battling persistent energy costs.
Dangote Refinery emphasized that the direct fuel distribution scheme—long anticipated after an earlier postponement from August 15—will officially roll out on September 15, aiming to stabilize supply chains and crash exorbitant logistics markups often passed on to consumers.
However, the company clarified that the new price template is not binding on independent petroleum marketers, except for its official partners such as MRS Oil.
Meanwhile, the development has sparked fresh tensions with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which on Thursday threatened to resume strike action, accusing Dangote Group of reneging on recent resolutions.
In response, Dangote Group insisted it “respects the voluntary membership of unions by its workers,” stressing its commitment to dialogue and fair labor practices.
As the countdown to September 15 begins, analysts say all eyes are on the refinery to see if its ambitious direct-distribution model will disrupt entrenched supply networks, ease fuel scarcity fears, and deliver sustainable price relief across Nigeria’s volatile petroleum market.
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