The Dangote Refinery fuel loading dispute has triggered conflicting reports and fresh fears of scarcity, after the refinery switched to dollar-denominated petrol sales last week. IPMAN’s Western Zone chairman initially stated that marketers halted large-scale loading over pricing uncertainty, though the association’s national spokesperson has since denied any formal suspension.
Petrol prices have surged by more than ₦100 per litre in less than a week and now going above ₦1,280 in Abuja. Dangote Refinery has since denied claims that it stopped loading trucks while insisting distribution remains ongoing at its Lekki plant.
This ongoing dispute traces back to tension between Dangote and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company over crude supply volumes and naira-denominated purchases. An industry source says Dangote is unhappy that the government is now issuing import permits to other companies while his refinery has capacity.
The Federal Government has since stepped in to mediate, though officials say they won’t allow a single player to hold the country’s fuel supply “to ransom.” For sure, the uncertainty continues to hover over pump prices nationwide.
