Many Nigerians are reportedly avoiding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supplied by the Dangote Refinery at several filling stations due to higher pump prices.
According to Daily Post, this has led to a noticeable decline in patronage at MRS filling stations, particularly in Abuja. MRS, a retail outlet owned by Alhaji Sayyu Idris Dantata, half-brother of Dangote Refinery Chairman Aliko Dangote, is currently selling petrol at prices significantly higher than competitors.
Field visits to MRS outlets on the Kubwa Expressway and in Lugbe revealed petrol being sold at ₦945 per litre, which is ₦25 higher than prices at nearby Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and AA RANO stations, where fuel now costs ₦920 per litre.
A manager at one of the MRS stations, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that the higher price has caused a sharp drop in customer turnout since November 2025.
“Our patronage has dropped. Queues have reduced because our price is higher. Management issued a circular to reduce the pump price to ₦920, but it has not been implemented. We hope it will be reviewed soon to boost sales,” the manager told Daily Post.
Despite the drop in station-level sales, the Dangote Refinery’s ex-depot price stood at ₦826 per litre as of Monday, December 8, 2025, remaining competitive with other suppliers like Aiteo (₦825) and MENJ (₦835).
Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), highlighted that unstable PMS pricing is a major concern for the downstream sector. He cautioned Nigerians against prioritizing cheaper prices at the expense of supply stability.
“We must stabilize PMS pricing. Our appeal to Nigerians is: don’t let a cheap price deceive you. If pricing is not accurate, the effects will show in the coming weeks and months,” Gillis-Harry said.
In response to market pressures, NNPCL and several other stations have reduced fuel prices twice in the past two weeks, bringing pump prices in Abuja to between ₦920 and ₦945 per litre.
