The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a consistent nationwide supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), assuring Nigerians that its daily production capacity surpasses domestic demand.
Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, stated in Lagos that the refinery’s sustained output underscores the company’s dedication to national energy stability and consumer confidence. He made the remarks amid concerns surrounding the recently approved 15% tariff on imported petrol and diesel.
According to Chiejina, the refinery currently produces and loads over 45 million litres of PMS and 25 million litres of diesel daily, more than enough to meet Nigeria’s total consumption. He added that the company works closely with regulatory agencies and distributors to ensure efficient nationwide delivery, emphasizing that Dangote remains steadfast in its mission to support energy security and reduce dependence on imports.
“The refinery’s robust production capacity not only guarantees local supply but also strengthens the naira by cutting foreign exchange outflows and encouraging inflows,” Chiejina explained. He described the new tariff as a strategic step towards protecting domestic industries from unfair foreign competition, noting that “dumping destroyed Nigeria’s textile sector — a cautionary example of what can happen when local industries are not shielded.”
He urged government agencies to strengthen enforcement against the importation of substandard petroleum products, warning that unchecked dumping could discourage investment and jeopardize national economic goals.
Chiejina commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the import tariff, describing it as “a courageous, business-friendly reform designed to safeguard Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector.” He praised the administration’s broader economic vision, noting that “Tinubu’s policies are reshaping the energy landscape, fostering industrial growth, and restoring investor confidence.”
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) played down public fears of an imminent fuel price hike. Its National President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, said there was no cause for alarm, as local refining capacity now meets the nation’s fuel needs. “The new tariff is primarily to discourage importation and attract investors to build more refineries in Nigeria,” Maigandi told The Nation.
Figures from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) show that Nigeria consumes about 50 million litres of petrol daily, 64% of which is still imported. The agency said the new tariff is part of a “market-responsive import framework” aimed at protecting local production and stabilising the market.
Despite these assurances, the policy has drawn strong criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has demanded its immediate reversal. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the measure as “insensitive, ill-timed, and ill-conceived,” arguing that it would worsen the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The ADC warned that the tariff could push petrol prices beyond ₦1,000 per litre and accused the Tinubu administration of pursuing “trial-and-error economic experiments” that ignore citizens’ suffering. “A government that cannot manage its own refineries has no business taxing those who keep the nation running,” the statement read.
The party called for transparent investment in domestic refining capacity before introducing policies that penalise consumers. “Until then, any tax meant to discourage fuel imports will only increase costs, since imported fuel still accounts for about 60% of national supply,” it added.
While the debate over the new tariff continues, the Dangote Refinery has maintained that there will be no fuel scarcity or price hike during the festive season. Aliko Dangote himself recently assured Nigerians of “an uninterrupted fuel supply throughout the ember months,” promising a Christmas and New Year free of fuel anxiety.
Market indicators suggest that the refinery’s operations have already contributed to price moderation. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the average pump price of PMS fell from around ₦1,030 to ₦850 per litre, while diesel prices dropped from highs of ₦1,700 to about ₦1,020 per litre — a reflection of reduced logistics costs and improved domestic supply.
As policymakers, producers, and consumers continue to weigh the implications of the 15% tariff, one fact remains clear: the Dangote Refinery has positioned itself at the centre of Nigeria’s evolving energy story — balancing the need for local industry protection with the promise of stability in the downstream petroleum market.