Dangote Refinery’s retail price of petrol has increased to N950 per litre at MRS filling stations in Abuja, despite the refinery’s 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity. This development comes on the heels of the nationwide Compressed Natural Gas truck distribution scheme and the Naira for Crude initiative between the oil firm and the Nigerian government.
As of Tuesday, 14th October 2025, MRS filling stations in Abuja, owned by Sayyu Dantata, dispensed petrol at N851 per litre. However, by Wednesday, the price had surged by N100 to N950 per litre. The same price increase applies to other Dangote Refinery retail partners, such as Ardova and Optima.
A manager at MRS, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the price hike to supply shortages, stating that the refinery’s wholesale price to marketers had risen in the last two days. “We had no choice. The N950 per litre we currently dispense is only slightly above the amount Dangote Refinery now charges us,” the source said.
Dangote Refinery has yet to comment on the nationwide petrol price hike, which contradicts its previous assurance that its fuel distribution scheme would reduce pump prices. Experts in the oil sector have attributed the development to a production shortfall, which has led the refinery to halt gantry petrol loading in recent days, prioritising its last-mile distribution scheme.
The federal government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, renewed its Naira for Crude deal with the refinery just weeks ago. However, the recent price hike has been linked to supply disruptions from Dangote Refinery, which has led depot owners to increase their ex-depot prices. As a result, Nigerians now buy petrol across retail outlets nationwide for between N950 and N990 per litre, depending on location.
The price increase has significant implications for consumers, who are already grappling with the economic challenges in the country. The development also raises questions about the effectiveness of the Naira for Crude initiative and the refinery’s ability to meet the country’s fuel demands. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government and the refinery will address the supply shortages and price hikes, and what measures will be taken to mitigate the impact on consumers.