Despite the announced ₦739 per litre pump price for petrol supplied from Dangote Refinery, several MRS retail outlets have yet to adjust their prices. Market checks by Petroleumprice.ng show that inventory timing and compliance limitations, rather than a single pricing directive, explain the variation across stations.
Impact of Existing Inventory
Many MRS outlets still sell petrol purchased before the latest price cut. These volumes came at higher ex-depot prices and earlier logistics costs. To avoid losses, stations often wait until they sell off older stock before adjusting pump prices.
This has created a staggered response. Outlets that lifted new supplies at lower prices adjusted faster than those relying on previous inventory.
Compliance and Monitoring Constraints
MRS runs a large retail network of about 2,000 stations nationwide, many of which operate under dealer or franchise arrangements. This scale makes real-time monitoring and enforcement across all locations difficult.
As a result, the company does not always exert immediate, direct control over pump prices at every outlet. Industry sources note that limited monitoring capacity can slow uniform compliance, allowing price adjustments to occur unevenly, particularly in areas with weaker oversight.
Outlook
As stations clear older stock and receive petrol priced at ₦699 per litre ex-depot, pump prices should move closer to the ₦739 benchmark. Stronger compliance monitoring would help accelerate consistent pricing across the MRS network.