The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the suspension of petrol sales in naira, a decision that has unsettled marketers and reignited concerns about fuel pricing and foreign exchange pressures.
In an email to customers sent at 6:42 pm on Friday, the refinery disclosed that the suspension would take effect from Sunday, September 28, 2025, citing the exhaustion of its crude-for-naira allocation as the reason.
The notice, signed by the Group Commercial Operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, was titled: “Suspension of DPRP PMS Naira Sales – Effective 28th September 2025.”
“We write to inform you that Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has been selling petroleum products in excess of our Naira-Crude allocations and, consequently, we are unable to sustain PMS sales in Naira going forward,” the company stated.
The refinery advised customers with ongoing naira-based transactions to formally request refunds.
Mounting Fuel Pricing Concerns
This is not the first time the refinery has suspended naira transactions. In March 2025, a similar move sparked widespread criticism and fears of the “dollarisation” of fuel sales in Nigeria, with pump prices climbing close to ₦1,000 per litre.
Industry analysts now warn of renewed volatility in the downstream sector. Jeremiah Olatide, CEO of Petroleumprice.ng, cautioned that petrol could surge beyond ₦900 per litre if sales shift predominantly to the dollar.
Labour Dispute Adds to Pressure
The announcement also coincides with a heated labour crisis. The refinery is currently facing backlash after allegedly sacking more than 800 Nigerian workers, a move condemned by unions.
On Friday, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) accused Dangote of “anti-labour practices” and threatened nationwide solidarity actions if the matter is not urgently addressed.
Implications for Energy Security
With the refinery considered pivotal to Nigeria’s energy security, stakeholders fear that the combination of currency-based restrictions and labour unrest could undermine government efforts to stabilise the fuel market under its current reform agenda.
