Marketers warn Nigerians may soon buy fuel in dollars as Dangote Refinery shifts to US pricing

Petroleum products retailers have warned that ordinary Nigerians could soon pay for petrol, diesel, and other refined products in US dollars if the Federal Government fails to act quickly to restore the Naira-for-crude arrangement with Dangote Refinery. Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), raised the alarm in a weekend interview, saying that a prompt resolution of the stalled deal was critical to shielding consumers from further hardship.

Dangote Refinery moves to dollar pricing

The warning follows Dangote Refinery's decision last week to begin selling refined petroleum products in US dollars, a move that effectively signalled the suspension of the Naira-for-crude deal, according to a report by Channels. Under that arrangement, off-takers of products from the 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery were permitted to purchase fuel in naira rather than foreign currency.

Days after the pricing change took effect, the Federal Government had yet to make any official statement on the matter, though reports indicated that talks between government officials and the refinery may have begun behind the scenes. Gillis-Harry said the government needed to bring those discussions to a close without delay.

PETROAN president warns of full dollarisation

'Nigerians may start buying petrol in US dollars if the Federal Government does not intervene in the Naira-for-crude deal with Dangote Refinery,' he said. 'We hope the downstream oil sector will not be dollarised to that extent.'

The concern comes as depot owners and marketers had already adjusted ex-depot and retail prices upward ahead of the dollar pricing announcement. Petrol currently sells for between N1,155 and N1,220 per litre in Abuja and surrounding areas, while diesel is priced between N1,700 and N1,800 per litre.

New pricing regime takes effect

Under the new pricing regime, petrol (Premium Motor Spirit) will now sell at $0.779 per litre, diesel (Automotive Gas Oil) at $1.087 per litre, while aviation fuel (ATK) will be priced at $0.985 per litre, according to data from PetroleumPriceNG.

Gillis-Harry said federal intervention remained the most reliable buffer against the kind of global energy price volatility that could make fuel unaffordable for most Nigerians if the market were to be fully dollarised. The decision has sparked widespread debate across the country's energy industry, with many analysts warning that it could trigger another round of fuel price increases if the naira weakens further against the dollar.

For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the shift to dollar pricing means fuel costs could become directly tied to exchange rate movements. If the naira continues its downward trend, pump prices could rise sharply, adding pressure on transportation costs and household budgets across the country.