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Dangote Petroleum Refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, has dismissed media reports linking a surge in petrol imports in November 2025 to a breakdown in supply arrangements with petroleum marketers. A statement from Anthony Chiejina, Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, called the reports “inaccurate and misleading.”
Citing IPMAN National President Abubakar Shettima, the refinery said marketers have lifted products without complaints. “We oppose continued importation because Dangote Refinery has the capacity to meet the country’s entire petrol demand,” Shettima said. He added that direct delivery to filling stations has stabilized distribution and boosted confidence among marketers.
Access open to all marketers
The refinery clarified that no agreements with marketers had collapsed, supply to marketers began in October 2025 at 600 million liters of petrol, increasing to 900 million liters in November and 1.5 billion liters in December.
“Volumes were scaled up in line with market growth,” the statement said, noting that supply has been open to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers, and filling station operators since mid-December, with daily loads ranging from 31 million to 48 million liters.
The refinery has also reduced minimum purchase volumes from two million liters to 250,000 liters and introduced a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees, measures aimed at supporting small and medium-sized operators and reducing reliance on imported fuel.
Regulatory, quality standards fully met
Dangote Refinery said claims that marketers withdrew due to pricing were unfounded, its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-responsive, and aligned with import parity, while meeting all regulatory and quality standards.
The surge in November imports, the refinery explained, coincided with import licensing approvals by the previous leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which allowed volumes beyond domestic demand. This was unrelated to Dangote Refinery’s operational capacity.
Dangote champions Africa’s industrial growth
Commissioned in 2023 with an initial capacity of 350,000 barrels a day, Dangote Refinery began full petrol production in September 2024 and is gradually scaling its design capacity of 650,000 barrels daily, and potentially 1.4 million barrels in the next three years.
With a net worth of $30.4 billion, Aliko Dangote continues to champion Africa’s industrial development. The refinery has warned that petrol prices could reach N1,400 per liter if the country relies on imports instead of local refining.
