Dangote Refinery Reaffirms Commitment to Prioritise Nigeria’s Fuel Supply

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has assured Nigerians that it is prioritising the domestic market to cushion the country from unfolding global energy shocks, a move seen as critical to stabilising local fuel availability as international refinery disruptions intensify. The company’s statement (issued on 5 March 2026 in Lagos) comes against the backdrop of an escalating geopolitical crisis in the Middle East that has disrupted global oil markets, tightened supply chains and sharply pushed up crude and freight costs.

Management explained that several international refineries have shut down or reduced output amid the conflict, leading to global scarcity of petroleum products and export bans by countries such as China on gasoline and diesel. Dangote Refinery said it would continue to insulate Nigeria from these external supply shocks by ensuring local supply remains the priority; one of the key advantages of having a large‑scale domestic refining capacity.

In response to rising costs, the refinery implemented a modest ₦100 per litre increase in its ex‑depot Premium Motor Spirit price, absorbing approximately 20 per cent of the cost escalation to lessen the burden on Nigerian consumers.

Despite sourcing crude at elevated international prices and receiving fewer cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited than required, Dangote Refinery stressed its resilience and continued commitment to sustaining uninterrupted local supply, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported products, moderating foreign exchange demand and enhancing national energy security during global volatility.

The firm also noted plans to deploy Compressed Natural Gas‑powered trucks to improve nationwide distribution efficiency and cushion the impact of logistics costs on fuel delivery, highlighting its proactive approach to strengthening the domestic petroleum supply chain.