LunagisthubNigeria’s Fuel Price Hike: What You Need to Know About the Dangote Refinery Shutdown
In a recent development, several petroleum products depot owners and marketers in Nigeria have increased their ex-depot petrol prices following the planned shutdown of Dangote Refinery’s petrol unit for maintenance and upgrades. As of January 2026, major depot owners are now selling petrol at around N800 per liter, up from between N740 and N780 per liter .
The price increase is linked to the reported planned turnaround maintenance at the Dangote Refinery, which aims to remove constraints and raise overall output. According to Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industries, “In most departments, our production levels have gone beyond 100 percent. We just need to remove constraints to raise overall output” .
The retail fuel prices across major filling stations in Nigeria have also been affected, ranging from N739 to N910 per liter. The price hike has sparked concerns among Nigerians, particularly with the country’s heavy reliance on petrol-powered generators and vehicles .
Dangote Refinery has clarified that the shutdown is strategic, aimed at upgrading units to boost overall output. The refinery’s crude distillation unit (CDU) is expected to be suspended for a few days in January, while the residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) has been taken offline .
The shutdown is expected to have a temporary impact on petrol supply, but analysts believe that the refinery’s upgrade will lead to increased production and potentially ease pricing pressure in the long run. As the situation unfolds, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how the fuel prices are affected .
Lunagisthub
