The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria has raised an alarm that some local refineries are importing substandard crude into the country to reduce costs.
The National President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, confirmed this to Media Talk Africa on Friday.
“It is true that some local refineries are importing substandard crude into Nigeria,” he said without mentioning the name of the refinery.
Earlier, the spokesperson of PETROAN had said that some local refineries in Nigeria are importing substandard crude into the country.
According to him, the importation of low-quality crude oil into Nigeria started following the suspension of the naira-for-crude deal by the federal government on March 19, 2025.
“Some refineries are importing substandard crude into the country. They do this to cut costs following the stoppage of the naira-for-crude deal. We are not going to mention any particular refinery, but when those concerned see the report, they will make corrections.
“Many may not know there is substandard crude. Any crude oil with high sulphur content does not meet the global standard.”
Media Talk Africa reports that on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, Dangote Refinery announced the suspension of petroleum products sales in Naira. This follows the stalemate of the naira-for-crude sale deal with the federal government through Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Consequently, retailers and marketers of petrol announced an increase in fuel prices to between N925 and N975 per litre, depending on the location.
This is the case as MRS, filling partners of Dangote Refinery, hiked its petrol price to between N925 and N950 per litre in Lagos and Abuja from N860 and N880.
Just recently, NNPC retail outlets increased their fuel prices to N925 and N950 per litre from a previous price of N860 and N880 in Lagos and Abuja.
