Nigerian filling stations relying on Dangote Refinery’s premium motor spirit have shut down due to operational challenges at the refinery. The $20 billion Lekki Lagos-based facility, which is Africa’s largest refinery, has reduced its crude intake to fewer than 300,000 barrels per day in October 2025. This is a significant decrease from the 600,000 barrels per day it was processing in July, and less than half of the plant’s capacity.
According to reports, the refinery’s operational setbacks are expected to persist into next year, which could continue to support gasoline prices. The reduction in crude intake has resulted in petrol production outages, with the refinery’s residue fluid catalytic cracker unit being challenged since late August. Although it is expected to be back up this week, major work remains to be completed on the gasoline-making unit, and it will have to shut down again in January 2026.
The impact of Dangote Refinery’s operational challenges is being felt in the Nigerian market, with fuel supply dropping sharply. MRS filling stations in Abuja, Kubwa, and the Lugbe Expressway have shut down due to the non-supply of fuel by the refinery. Other retail partners of Dangote Refinery, such as Optima and Ardova filling stations, have had to rely on supply from major oil markets to remain operational.
The situation has led to an increase in fuel prices, with MRS and other Dangote Refinery’s retail partners increasing their fuel price to N950 per litre, up from N851 in Abuja. Other filling stations, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, AA Rano, Ranoil, Total, Mobil, Empire, and NIPCO, have also increased their fuel pump price to between N940 and N955 per litre in Abuja and environs.
The temporary fuel supply glitch in the country has been attributed to the operational setbacks at Dangote Refinery. The national presidents of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria have confirmed that the fuel price hike is a result of the temporary supply glitch. The situation highlights the significance of Dangote Refinery in Nigeria’s fuel supply and the need for the refinery to overcome its operational challenges to ensure a stable fuel supply in the country.