Dangote’s refinery suspends petrol sales in Naira

The oil oil refinery has announced the suspension of petrol sales in Naira, a move that shocked marketing experts and raised new concerns about fuel prices and on the pressure of changes.

In an e-mail sent to its customers exactly at 18:42 on Friday, the refinery revealed that the decision would have had a effect from Sunday 28 September 2025, citing the exhaustion of its raw allocation for Naira as a reason.

The notice, signed by the group commercial operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochimicals, was entitled “Suspension of sales DPRP PMS Naira – in force since 28 September 2025.”

The company also asked customers with ongoing transactions based in Naira to formally request reimbursements.

Read in part: “We write to inform you that Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochimicals has sold oil products higher than our allocations of Naira-Crude and, consequently, we are not able to support the sales of PMS to Naira in the future.

“Please note that this suspension of Naira sales for the PMS will be effective from Sunday 28 September 2025. We will provide further updates on the resumption of the supply once the situation has been resolved.

“All customers with PMS transactions in Naira who would like a reimbursement of their current payments should formally request the processing of their refund.”

The announcement arrives at a time when the refinery is involved in an aspra dispute with the unions on the alleged mass of mass of over 800 Nigerian workers, a development that has triggered indignation and requires government intervention.
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This is not the first time that the refinery suspended transactions in local currency. In March 2025, Dangote had briefly interrupted the sales of refined products to Naira, insisting on the fact that his assignments within the raw program for Naira were inadequate to satisfy the growing internal demand.

The decision then aroused concerns about the dollarization of fuel sales in Nigeria, increasing the prices at the pump almost n1,000 per liter.

Analysts warn that the last move could again trigger volatility in the downstream sector, with fears of a potential increase in petrol prices if the transactions are shifted mainly in dollars.

The CEO of Petroleumprice.ng, Jeremiah Olatide, warned that petrol prices could rise above n900 per liter, observing that the refinery of crane had been decisive to maintain the pump prices in recent months

The suspension also coincides with greater industrial tension to the refinery. On Friday, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria accused the company of anti-Labor practices, following the resolution of hundreds of Nigerian workers.

The trade union leaders promised to resist what they described as “an unjust and insensitive company decision”, threatening the actions of solidarity at national level if the question is not addressed.

With the refinery seen as a fundamental for Nigeria’s energy safety, the interested parties affirm that the double crises, the suspension of Naira’s sales and work disorders could undermine the government’s efforts to stabilize the fuel market within the current reform agenda. [The Punch]

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