The recent reduction in fuel prices in Nigeria has sparked a disagreement between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and independent petrol marketers about the cause of the price drop. Dangote Refinery clarified that its decision to reduce the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from ₦877 to ₦828 per litre, a 5.6 percent decrease effective November 6, 2025, was an independent move unrelated to the federal government’s suspension of the 15 percent import tariff on petrol and diesel.
The refinery emphasized that the import tariff had been approved earlier on October 21, 2025, but the price cut was made beforehand, demonstrating the company's commitment to providing competitively priced, high-quality, domestically refined fuel. Dangote stated that its products are of higher quality and generally sold at lower prices than imported fuels, which are often below standard and costlier.
On the other hand, petrol marketers attributed the retail petrol price reductions to the government's tariff suspension, creating some confusion in the market. Dangote Petroleum Refinery described this claim as "deliberately misleading" and inconsistent with true market realities.
Since commencing operations, Dangote Refinery claims to have reduced fuel prices on over seven occasions and absorbed logistics costs to ensure nationwide price stability and uniformity, especially during peak demand periods. The refinery also played a significant role in ending the perennial fuel scarcity typically seen in the ember months.
The clash highlights complexities in Nigeria's downstream petroleum market, but overall, consumers benefit from the price reductions, whether attributed to Dangote’s operational decisions or government policy adjustments.