Dangote Refinery Suspends Petrol Loading, Sparking Expectations of a Price Hike Announcement as Early as Monday

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has halted petrol loading until further notice. Tanker drivers already queued at the facility have been instructed to leave the premises, with all operations currently paused.

This latest move has fueled speculation in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry that the refinery may soon reveal another increase in its ex-depot petrol price, potentially as early as Monday.

Industry observers have pointed out a recurring pattern, the refinery often suspends loading activities shortly before adjusting prices upward.

A comparable event took place on Friday, March 6, around 2:00 a.m. WAT, when loading was stopped, followed by an announcement of a ₦121 rise, lifting the ex-depot PMS price to ₦995 per litre.

That change came shortly after a prior adjustment on March 2, when the refinery increased its petrol gantry price from ₦774 to ₦874 per litre, driven by escalating pressures in the domestic fuel market.

These repeated halts in loading followed by price revisions have made marketers, depot operators, and other stakeholders particularly attentive to developments at the refinery, as many base their own pricing strategies on its actions.