Nigerians Urge Dangote to Open Retail Outlets as Petrol Ex Depot Price Falls to N699 Per Litre
Nigerians have called on the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to establish its own retail filling stations across the country following the company’s decision to reduce the ex depot price of petrol to N699 per litre.
The new rate, down from N828 per litre, reflects a N129 reduction and has been widely welcomed as a major relief for consumers struggling with rising fuel costs.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, confirmed the reduction, noting that marketers have already been notified to begin lifting petrol at the new price.
Abubakar Garima, National President of IPMAN, said the adjustment is timely as fuel demand typically increases during the festive season. “The refinery reduced the price to N699 per litre and informed marketers that loading can commence immediately,” he said.
Across social media and public forums, many Nigerians praised the price cut but urged Dangote Refinery to take an additional step by launching its own retail stations. They argue that Dangote owned outlets would ensure that the reduced ex depot price translates to lower pump prices nationwide.
Some citizens expressed concerns that independent marketers may not fully reflect the reduction, making Dangote’s direct participation in retail distribution important to prevent arbitrary price increases and stabilise the market.
The call aligns with earlier assurances by Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who reiterated that the refinery is committed to offering petroleum products at competitive and market friendly prices.
“Prices are going down. They have to go down because we must remain competitive against imports,” Dangote said, adding that both diesel and petrol will continue to be sold at reasonable rates.
The refinery’s new pricing follows a recent adjustment by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, which lowered pump prices at its retail stations to N900 per litre in Lagos and N940 per litre in Abuja.
With the festive season approaching, Nigerians hope that the reduction in ex depot price, combined with wider retail access, will ease the financial burden on households and support greater stability in the downstream sector.
