Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: fuel supply

  • Petrol market tightens as depot owners raise ex-depot prices toward ₦800/litre

    Petrol market tightens as depot owners raise ex-depot prices toward ₦800/litre

    Reporting by Punch indicates private depot operators in Lagos have raised the ex‑depot price of petrol toward ₦800 per litre, a move that could ripple into higher retail pump prices if sustained.

    Traders and logistics players say the adjustment reflects supply uncertainty and financing/transport costs, while marketers watch whether the change will hold or ease as supply channels stabilise.

    TheCable quoted an industry source warning that “Prices will likely increase in the coming days,” even as another refinery source insisted “Production is still going on, of course.” Tell Magazine similarly noted that operators “increased the ex‑depot price of petrol to about N800 per litre.”

    If ex‑depot prices remain elevated, Lagos commuters and businesses may face another round of transport‑led inflation—so watch depot pricing, supply volumes, and any regulatory guidance.

    Echotitbits take: If ex‑depot prices remain elevated, Lagos commuters and businesses may face another round of transport‑led inflation—so watch depot pricing, supply volumes, and any regulatory guidance.

    Source: The Punch — January 4, 2026 (https://punchng.com/private-depots-hike-petrol-price-to-n800-litre-in-lagos/)

    The Punch January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • NNPC stays in the black as price war pushes pump price under ₦800

    NNPC stays in the black as price war pushes pump price under ₦800

    2026-01-01 06:05:00
    According to Punch, NNPC Ltd reported ₦502bn profit after tax for November 2025, extending its profitability streak amid shifting market conditions.

    Reporting by the outlet indicates gas output and infrastructure availability supported performance, even as upstream volumes remained constrained.

    The same report linked the downstream “price war” to NNPC retail cuts that pushed PMS prices below ₦800/litre in some locations, intensifying competition.

    TheCable also reported the monthly performance, quoting the profit figure and noting output movement in November 2025.

    APA News similarly referenced the update and quoted language attributing results to improved gas production and stronger trading performance.

    Echotitbits take:

    If NNPC keeps pricing aggressively to defend market share, watch for tighter station supply cycles, margin compression across marketers, and renewed debate on how “deregulated” pricing should work when the biggest player also plays stabilizer.

    Source: The Punch — January 1, 2026 (https://punchng.com/nnpc-posts-n502bn-profit-cuts-petrol-below-n800-litre/)

    The Punch 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Fuel Marketers Push Privatisation of NNPC Refineries, Want Deadline by Q1 2026

    Fuel Marketers Push Privatisation of NNPC Refineries, Want Deadline by Q1 2026

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-26 06:40:00

    According to *PUNCH*, petroleum retail outlet owners are renewing pressure on the Federal Government to privatise Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, arguing that repeated public-funded rehabilitation has not produced stable output and has left the country reliant on imports.

    The association’s argument is framed around competition, efficiency, and investment: private capital and technical expertise, it says, could make refining assets commercially viable and reduce fiscal drain.

    If implemented, the policy shift could reshape downstream dynamics—product supply stability, pricing logistics, and FX demand—though labour, asset valuation, and governance terms would be fiercely contested.

    Energy-sector analysts will watch whether government moves from “rehabilitation” language to clear transaction milestones, and how any privatisation aligns with local content and security realities.

    *The Guardian* reported that PETROAN “renewed its call for the privatisation of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries,” while *SweetCrudeReports* added that “timely privatisation would eliminate recurring fiscal burdens” and attract capital and expertise.

    Echotitbits take: This is the downstream debate Nigeria keeps postponing. The make-or-break factor is credibility: transparent bidding, clear performance obligations, and a governance framework that prevents a new cycle of capture and underperformance.

    Source: Punch — Dec 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/petroan-pushes-nnpc-refineries-privatisation-by-q1-2026/)

    Photo credit/source: The Punch
    The Punch 2025-12-26

  • N739/Litre Dangote Petrol Sparks Rush at MRS Stations

    N739/Litre Dangote Petrol Sparks Rush at MRS Stations

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-25 09:20:00

    As detailed by The Punch, the sale of Dangote-refined petrol at about N739 per litre at some MRS outlets triggered long queues, as motorists sought cheaper fuel amid higher prevailing pump prices elsewhere. The rush reflects both price sensitivity and the market’s hunt for stable supply points.

    The report suggests queues built quickly in locations where the N739 pricing was visible, with customers traveling between stations to confirm availability—typical behavior in Nigeria’s downstream market when a meaningful price gap opens.

    The development also highlights distribution reality: price reductions can create localized demand spikes that supply logistics may struggle to match in the short term, raising the risk of stockouts and opportunistic price deviations.

    On validation, Nairametrics reported a monitoring push, quoting a call to “report any MRS station selling above N739 per litre,” while Vanguard captured commuter reactions describing the pricing move as a “laudable intervention” and “timely relief” amid cost pressures.

    Echotitbits take: Cheap fuel without stable volume quickly becomes chaos. Watch whether supply scales (more stations, more trucks, steadier replenishment) and whether regulators/marketers enforce price discipline to stop “N739 on paper, N850 at the nozzle.”

    Source: The Punch — December 25, 2025 (https://punchng.com/n739-litre-dangote-petrol-causes-queues-at-mrs-stations/)

    The Punch 2025-12-25

  • Dangote petrol rollout: ₦739/litre hits MRS outlets as supply test begins

    Dangote petrol rollout: ₦739/litre hits MRS outlets as supply test begins

    Photo credit: The Punch
    2025-12-22 09:00:00

    In an update published by *The Punch*, Dangote Refinery has begun a nationwide petrol price rollout tied to its distribution arrangement with MRS Oil outlets, putting pump price at about ₦739 per litre in participating stations.

    The move is being positioned as a stabilisation push—aimed at reducing downstream volatility, narrowing price dispersion across regions, and increasing locally refined supply into retail channels.

    Market watchers say the real test will be continuity of supply and whether other marketers match the pricing—especially in high-transport-cost corridors where pump prices typically climb.

    For consumers, the announcement lands as a pocketbook story: transport costs, food logistics, and small-business energy spending often respond quickly to fuel pricing shifts.

    Channels TV reported Dangote’s statement that “Starting from Tuesday, MRS will start selling petrol at N739/litre,” while Vanguard also reported the refinery “commenced nationwide sales… at a pump price of N739 per litre” via MRS outlets.

    **Echotitbits take:** This is not just a price headline—it’s a supply-chain stress test. Watch for (1) sustained volumes, (2) whether queues return, and (3) how regulators respond if pricing triggers new tension among marketers.

    Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/dangote-launches-n739-litre-petrol-at-mrs-stations-nationwide/)

  • Nigeria’s U.S. crude imports jump sharply as Dangote reshapes supply routes

    Nigeria’s U.S. crude imports jump sharply as Dangote reshapes supply routes

    EIA logo image used by Punch
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, Nigeria’s imports of crude oil from the United States surged by 153% in 2025 (February–September), reflecting changing supply economics and refinery demand.

    Punch cited U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) trade data showing Nigeria imported 39.99 million barrels over the period, up from 15.79 million barrels in the same window of 2024, with shipments rising month by month.

    Reuters earlier reported that the U.S. became a net exporter of crude to Nigeria for the first time in February and March 2025, a shift linked to changing refinery runs and demand signals connected to the Dangote refinery’s operations.

    TheCable also referenced EIA figures, noting the scale of Nigeria’s U.S. crude inflows and how the pattern departs from Nigeria’s typical position as a crude exporter rather than an importer.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: The bigger story is market efficiency colliding with domestic supply constraints: if local refineries keep buying competitively priced imported crude, Nigeria’s long-standing “crude exporter, product importer” paradox could morph into a new paradox: importing crude for local refining. Watch for tighter enforcement (or redesign) of domestic crude supply frameworks, and whether lower logistics/contracting frictions can make local crude more reliable for local refineries.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/us-crude-exports-to-nigeria-surge-153/)

  • Dangote Refinery Receives Second Crude Cargo From Ghana

    Dangote Refinery Receives Second Crude Cargo From Ghana

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    The Dangote Refinery has received its second crude oil shipment from Ghana, signalling deepening regional supply links for the massive Lagos‑based complex. Reports say the cargo is part of a broader supply arrangement that allows the plant to process blends from multiple African producers.

    Energy analysts note that regular deliveries from Ghana and other countries could strengthen West African energy integration, while helping the refinery reach full capacity and stabilise fuel supply in Nigeria. The move also underscores Dangote’s strategy of diversifying feedstock sources beyond domestic crude.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12