Dangote Petroleum Refinery has begun asking marketers to top up payments on outstanding petrol orders as it moves to reconcile prices following a sequence of disruptions that started with the suspension of sales, continued with a price increase, and culminated in the midnight halt of gantry loading.
Industry sources told petroleumprice.ng that the refinery’s latest directive applies to volumes booked at the old price but not lifted before the gantry shutdown. Marketers with pending allocations must now realign payments to the revised gantry price of ₦799 per litre before loading can resume.
The development follows a turbulent 24-hour window at the Lekki-based facility. On Monday, the refinery first paused petrol sales. Hours later, it raised the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from ₦699 to ₦799 per litre. By midnight, gantry loading stopped, leaving trucks already in the queue on standby.
Sources say the refinery’s commercial team has since informed customers that outstanding orders will be recalculated at the new price. Any Authority to Collect (ATC) or fancard that was processed but not used before the shutdown has been voided, requiring marketers to reprogram fresh ATCs for any remaining balance.
From price support to realignment
According to a notice sighted by petroleumprice.ng, the refinery explained that it had deliberately supported prices during the festive period to ease household spending pressures. With the holidays over, the refinery said it has now realigned PMS prices to what it described as more sustainable levels.
Under the revised structure, marketers will receive updated volumes for their outstanding orders based on the new price. The refinery says the step is necessary to ensure market stability and maintain long-term affordability.
However, marketers on the ground say the timing and execution have created operational strain. Many had completed payment processes and positioned trucks for loading before the gantry shutdown. Those marketers now face additional cash calls to top up before they can lift products.
Some industry players argue that the move raises contractual concerns, especially where final slips had already been issued. Others warn that prolonged reconciliation could disrupt supply flows, particularly for independent marketers that rely on steady gantry access.
Market tension builds
The downstream market is already reacting. Retail prices are adjusting upward, with outlets supplied by Dangote-linked marketers moving to higher pump levels. In Abuja, a station at Airport Junction sold PMS at ₦899 per litre. Market participants say uncertainty over loading schedules could further tighten supply if the standoff persists.
For now, attention remains on when gantry operations will fully resume and how quickly marketers can complete the required top-ups. The episode underscores the growing influence of Dangote Refinery’s pricing and operational decisions on Nigeria’s fuel market, where even short disruptions can quickly cascade across the supply chain.