Nigerians may soon breathe a sigh of relief as the long-awaited resumption of petrol loading at the Dangote Refinery signals a potential drop in pump prices across the country.
For weeks, motorists have battled skyrocketing fuel prices, with some stations in Abuja selling petrol for as high as ₦965 per litre. But with independent marketers now lifting products from the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, optimism is growing that prices will soon begin to fall.
Abubakar Maigandi, the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), confirmed that members have resumed loading petrol from the Dangote Refinery. He explained that the current ex-depot price stands at ₦877 per litre, up from the previous ₦820, but assured that increased supply would help balance the market.
“Our members have started loading at the Dangote Refinery, and we expect this to ease the pressure on petrol supply nationwide. When availability improves, prices naturally come down. While I can’t predict the exact reduction, Nigerians should expect some relief soon,” Maigandi stated.
In agreement, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, noted that sufficient supply from local refineries like Dangote’s remains key to price stability. “Once products from Dangote and major depots flow consistently, the market gets saturated, making petrol both available and affordable,” he explained.
Investigations revealed that several filling stations, including MRS, Emedeb, Optima, and Bova, have resumed dispensing fuel following fresh supplies from the refinery.
Over the past two weeks, the sharp increase in fuel prices had been blamed on temporary disruptions in the refinery’s distribution network. But Dangote Industries’ Vice President, Devakumar Edwin, recently confirmed that over 310 million litres of petrol have been allocated for nationwide loading — a move expected to ease supply constraints and restore market confidence.
Industry observers believe the latest development could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s downstream sector, reducing the country’s dependence on imports and stabilizing prices for consumers.
As petrol tankers roll out once again from the Dangote Refinery, millions of Nigerians are hopeful that this renewed supply will finally bring down prices and end weeks of financial strain at the pump.