ABUJA — Several filling stations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have remained closed for over four days, leaving motorists scrambling for fuel, following delays in the rollout of Dangote Refinery’s much-publicized free fuel distribution scheme.
DAILY POST reports that partners in the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery initiative, including MRS and Conoil stations, are experiencing empty tanks, disrupting fuel supply across the city.
“Yes, for four days we are yet to have either fuel or diesel. We are waiting for supply from Dangote Refinery. We were told the product will hit the road from Tuesday, so the fuel may arrive by Wednesday,” a station manager, who requested anonymity, told DAILY POST.
Dangote Group had earlier announced on its X account that Conoil, Eternal Super, Nepal Energies, Kifayat Global Energy, and Riquest and Gas have partnered with the refinery for the fuel distribution scheme. The company also noted that its fleet of around 1,000 compressed natural gas trucks would hit Nigerian roads starting September 15, 2025, a deadline that has not been met.
Meanwhile, self-collection gantry sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), earlier fixed at N820 per litre, were suspended but are now expected to resume from Tuesday, according to Dangote Refinery.
Reacting to the shortage, Billy Gillis-Harry, national president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PRAON), warned that the downstream sector cannot be driven by a single player. He expressed concerns that Dangote’s attempt to manage the refinery, depots, and retail outlets simultaneously could create inefficiencies and disrupt supply.
“It’s a Herculean task to transport products efficiently across the country. Even with 50,000 trucks, one company cannot manage it alone. Division of labour among stakeholders is crucial for efficiency,” Harry said. He also cautioned Nigerians about Dangote’s expanding control over the energy sector, citing experiences in cement and sugar markets where prices remain high despite widespread distribution.
DAILY POST reports that Dangote Refinery, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have been in ongoing conflict over the refinery’s distribution plan. DAPPMAN accused Dangote of stifling competition, a claim the refinery denies, instead alleging that marketers demanded N1.5 trillion in fuel subsidy claims — an allegation marketers have rejected.
Currently, fuel prices stand between N865 and N920 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, respectively, intensifying pressure on motorists amid the delayed rollout.
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