Dangote Refinery Resumes Petrol Sales In Naira After Committee Intervention

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced the immediate resumption of petrol (Premium Motor Spirit, PMS) sales in Naira, marking a significant shift aimed at easing access to fuel supply and stabilising the domestic market.

According to a statement released on Saturday, the decision follows the intervention of the Naira-for-Crude Technical Committee, chaired by a senior government official, which was established to address concerns over the refinery’s earlier insistence on foreign currency transactions.

With the latest directive, marketers and bulk buyers can now place orders and make payments in Naira for both self-collection and free delivery at designated depots and retail outlets across the country.

Industry observers say the move is expected to improve liquidity in the downstream sector, support the Central Bank’s efforts to strengthen the local currency, and reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand.

The Dangote Refinery — Africa’s largest, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day — had earlier faced criticism from local oil marketers who argued that payment in dollars was unsustainable for domestic transactions.

Officials say the resumption of Naira-denominated sales will ensure wider distribution of petrol across Nigeria and help stabilise pump prices in the coming weeks.