Reporting by Daily Post indicates that Aliko Dangote told Arise Television the Dangote Petroleum Refinery cannot sell petrol below traded market levels while crude and logistics costs remain elevated. He said the last adjustment came when the market was around N1,265 a litre and that the company is not receiving discounted crude that would allow a subsidy-style cut. “But we can’t go now and subsidise everything,” he said.
Dangote also argued that Nigerian petrol remains cheaper than in several neighbouring markets, creating an incentive to move product across the border. He put the gap at about 30 to 50 per cent in some countries and about 20 to 25 per cent in Niger Republic even at a Nigerian illustration price of N1,350 a litre.
Nairametrics corroborated the interview, quoting him as saying neighbouring prices are “about 30% to 50% more expensive than in Nigeria.” Arise News carried the same explanation: “What they need to do is to ask, what is the neighbours’ price?” he said, adding that smuggling of locally produced petrol persists.
Echotitbits take: Pricing is now a three-way contest among international crude, domestic distribution costs and regional arbitrage. Watch whether border enforcement and any restriction on supplies to importing marketers change pump prices before month-end.
Source: Today FM – https://todayfmlive.com/dangote-links-high-petrol-prices-to-cross-border-smuggling/, September 15, 2026
Photo Credit: The Cable