Dangote Refinery is said to be part of a defamation campaign targeting NNPCL.
The ongoing conflict between major entities in Nigeria's oil and gas industry, specifically the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery, owned by Aliko Dangote, shows no signs of resolution.
Recent allegations reported by Nigeria Voice suggest that Dangote is orchestrating a smear campaign against NNPCL and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari. The report claims that the Dangote Media team has sponsored a story asserting that NNPCL imported over 200 million litres of petrol in February, despite undergoing refinery maintenance.
While NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye has not provided an official response to these allegations, source familiar with the situation stated that available data does not corroborate the assertion that NNPCL imported such a significant volume of petrol shortly after mid-February 2025.
Additionally, an attempted to contact Anthony Chijiena, spokesperson for Dangote Industries Limited, for his comments on the matter, but no response was received by the time of this report.
This situation is further complicated by a viral video from a reviewer who claimed to have purchased petrol at differing prices from MRS Filling Station in Alapere, Lagos, and NNPCL at Ojodu Berger. The reviewer stated that the petrol from MRS was priced at N925 per litre, while NNPCL's was N945. The reviewer also claimed that a generator powered by NNPCL fuel stopped after 17 minutes, whereas the one using Dangote petrol ran for 33 minutes.
In response, NNPCL spokesperson Soneye dismissed these claims as unfounded and lacking evidence. The rivalry between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery has escalated since NNPCL announced the reopening of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries last year, coinciding with a price competition where MRS filling stations, in collaboration with Dangote Refinery, sell petrol at N945 per litre compared to NNPCL's price of N965.
The increasing tension between Dangote Refinery and NNPCL really shows how competitive Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has become, especially as both companies vie for the top spot. The current price battles, claims of misleading information, and differing views on fuel efficiency indicate that these conflicts are likely to continue.
In the end, finding a way to settle these issues through clear industry rules and teamwork could be crucial for bringing stability to Nigeria’s fuel market.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians are increasingly choosing to patronize the Dangote Refinery in collaboration with MRS filling stations over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPLC) retail outlets. Observations made on Monday indicated a significant shift, with motorists opting for MRS stations instead of NNPC outlets nationwide.
As a result, the long lines typically seen at NNPCL retail locations have notably diminished over the past week. Inspections along the Alapere estate bus stop along Lagos Ibadan express way revealed a stark contrast, with few motorists at NNPC stations compared to the bustling activity at MRS filling stations. Currently, MRS stations are offering fuel at N945 per litre, while NNPCL's price stands at N965 per litre in Abuja.