Most petrol stations in Nigeria have not yet passed on recent declines in crude oil and a lower gantry price at Dangote Refinery, leaving retail pump rates largely unchanged in Abuja despite a marked fall in global benchmarks.
Key takeaways
- Despite lower crude prices and a cheaper Dangote gantry rate, many Nigerian filling stations in Abuja still sell premium motor spirit at roughly the same level.
- A survey on Thursday morning found pump prices in Abuja ranging from N1317 to N1336 per litre across multiple brands.
- Dangote Refinery cut its gantry petrol price by N75 to N1,175 per litre after crude oil prices fell.
- Some station operators say they plan to reduce retail prices by N75 to around N1,242 per litre within days.
- Higher petrol, diesel, and other petroleum product costs have been affecting Nigerians for the past three months, tied to the escalation of the Iran–United States–Israel conflict on February 28, 2026.
Abuja pump prices remain elevated as crude falls
A market check on Thursday morning showed petrol is still being offered at between N1317 and N1336 per litre at filling stations in Abuja. The pricing pattern was observed at outlets including AA Rano, MRS, NNPCL, Ranoil, Empire Energy, and other stations operating in the capital and nearby areas.
The lack of immediate price relief comes even as crude-linked inputs have eased. Crude blends such as Brent and West Texas Intermediate have reportedly dropped sharply to about $77 and $74 per barrel, down from levels as high as $100 per barrel before a peace deal between the United States and Iran. That decline has been reflected in Dangote Refinery’s pricing, which adjusted its gantry petrol rate downward by N75 to N1,175 per litre.
Marketers delay retail cuts, citing ongoing discussions
While Dangote’s gantry price has moved lower, petroleum marketers and station owners have not yet reduced what customers pay at the pump. When contacted, the president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, indicated only that marketers were “in a meeting,” offering no immediate timeline for retail adjustments.
However, one MRS filling station manager in Abuja—who asked not to be named—said the outlet expects to reduce petrol by N75, bringing the price to N1,242 per litre from N1317. The manager suggested the change would likely take place by Thursday (the day of the survey) or Friday.
At AA Rano, an attendant told the reporter that she had informed management about customer complaints over petrol costs at around N1,330 per litre. The attendant said the message to management was that customers were increasingly upset and that the company had promised a reduction “soon.”
Pressure on household budgets continues amid regional conflict
The report also points to a broader backdrop: for roughly the past three months, Nigerians have been dealing with higher prices for petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products. The increase has been linked to the Iran–United States–Israel war, which intensified on February 28, 2026.
