The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a further reduction in the ex-depot price of petrol, dropping it from ₦840 to ₦820 per litre, effective July 8, 2025. This comes just one week after a previous cut from ₦880 to ₦840 on June 30.

Confirming the latest development, Tony Chiejina, spokesperson for the refinery, said the new pricing applies to all marketers with distribution agreements with the Lagos-based facility.

Major downstream players including MRS Oil & Gas, Ardova Plc, and Heyden Petroleum are expected to adjust their pump prices downward in line with the new ex-depot rate.

This marks the refinery’s latest move in a string of market-shaping strategies aimed at asserting dominance in the fuel distribution space. On June 15, the company announced the free distribution of petrol and diesel to selected marketers and key users across Nigeria, alongside the acquisition of 4,000 brand-new CNG-powered tankers, with rollout set for August 15, 2025.

In addition, the refinery unveiled a credit scheme, allowing marketers who purchase a minimum of 500,000 litres of petrol to access an additional 500,000 litres on credit for two weeks, secured by bank guarantees.

While these moves have been praised for lowering consumer prices and increasing access, they have also sparked unease among independent marketers and depot owners, who warn that the refinery’s rapid expansion may stifle competition and push out smaller operators.

Critics argue that Dangote’s strategies, though beneficial to end-users in the short term, could lead to a monopolistic hold on the downstream sector, distorting the fuel supply chain and weakening existing players with long-standing corporate supply arrangements.