KEY POINTS
- Dangote Petroleum Refinery has established a toll free hotline for reporting MRS stations selling fuel above N739 per litre.
- The move enforces the refinery’s recently announced price, intended to curb costs and ensure stability.
- The company warns against artificial scarcity, citing its large production capacity to meet demand.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is taking its new fuel price directly to the public, launching a hotline for consumers to report MRS retailers charging too much. The company announced a toll free number, 0800 123 5264, specifically for complaints against MRS Oil Nigeria Plc stations selling petrol above the approved price of 739 naira per litre.
This step follows Dangote’s recent rollout of nationwide sales at that price point. The refinery stated this price is meant to help lower fuel costs and create more stability, especially during the current holiday period. In a public statement, the company urged Nigerians not to pay more when its locally refined fuel is available.
“We encourage Nigerians to report any MRS station selling PMS above 739 naira per litre,” the refinery said. The initiative aims to improve market transparency and protect consumers from overpayment.
Enforcement and Market Implications
The refinery also issued a warning against attempts to undermine the price reduction by creating artificial shortages. It highlighted its substantial production capacity, stating it can produce about 50 million litres of petrol daily to sustain supply.
Alongside the public hotline, Dangote called on government regulatory agencies to actively monitor stations and take action against any marketers found violating the pricing guidelines. Industry analysts see the refinery’s aggressive pricing and monitoring push as a potential game changer.
They note it could reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel, which would ease pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. However, these analysts stress that consistent enforcement will be crucial for the lower price to hold at retail stations across the country.
The move places Dangote Refinery in a direct oversight role regarding its distributor, MRS. It signals a proactive attempt to control the final consumer price of its product, a significant intervention in Nigeria’s often volatile fuel market. Consumer response to the hotline and regulatory follow through will determine its real world impact.
