A sharp drop in petrol prices at MRS retail outlets has triggered long queues at several stations, as motorists rush to take advantage of the reduced cost. The new price of N739 per litre, recently set by Dangote Refinery, is attracting significant patronage across Lagos and other parts of the country.
At the Alapere MRS station in Ketu, Lagos, BrandIconImage observed vehicles lined up for several hundred meters, with drivers eager to buy at the lower rate. Similar scenes were reported at MRS stations in Palmgrove and Ebute-Metta, where motorists expressed satisfaction over the savings.
However, the price adjustment is yet to be reflected in all MRS-affiliated stations. For instance, at the Alagbole/Akute stations, a border town between Lagos and Ogun states, petrol was still selling at N800 per litre — N61 higher than the Dangote-prescribed price.
Kingsley Edwards, a motorist at the Alapere station, said the long queues were worth the wait. “Why would I buy at outlets charging N890 per litre when I can get it here for over N150 less? The queue is worth it for the money I’m saving,” he said.
Other filling stations outside MRS continue to sell above the new benchmark. Heyden was recorded at N887 per litre, Fatgbems at N881, and NNPC at N820. In Abuja, affiliates of the Dangote Refinery were also yet to adjust their meters to the N739 price.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the discrepancy to delivery logistics. IPMAN National President Abubakar Maigandi, who is also CEO of Garima Ltd, explained that stations yet to receive direct deliveries from the Dangote Refinery were still pricing petrol higher due to transport costs.
“Once these stations start receiving deliveries directly from Dangote’s trucks, they will align their prices with MRS,” Maigandi said. He added that some independent marketers in the Federal Capital Territory have already reduced prices below N800 per litre.
Stations registered with the refinery, including Heyden, Ardova Petrol, and Optima, were not selling at N739 per litre at the time of reporting. A market survey by The Nation showed Shema filling station sold petrol for N836 per litre, while AA Rano and Sharon stations were at N840.
As the delivery network from the refinery expands in the coming weeks, analysts expect more stations to reduce prices, giving motorists wider access to cheaper petrol and easing the burden on transportation costs across the country.