NNPC cuts petrol price to N1,250 in Abuja as Dangote gantry cut takes hold

NNPC Ltd has reduced petrol prices at several Abuja filling stations from N1,299 to N1,250 per litre. The N49 cut follows Dangote Refinery's decision to lower its gantry price by N50 to N1,165 per litre on August 5.

Pump prices fall in Abuja and Lagos

Checks showed NNPC filling stations in Abuja now sell petrol at N1,250 per litre, down from N1,299. Other major retailers, including MRS, moved first, cutting pump prices by between N25 and N50 per litre. Petrol at those stations now sells for between N1,210 and N1,275 per litre in some locations.

Across Abuja and nearby areas, pump prices now range from roughly N1,210 to N1,300 per litre depending on the station. In Lagos, NNPC petrol price dropped from N1,265 to N1,205.

Dangote gantry price cut pushes competition

The wave of retail price cuts traces back to Dangote Refinery's August 5 decision. The refinery reduced petrol from N1,215 to N1,165 per litre, a N50 drop, and cut diesel from N1,650 to N1,570 per litre. That reduction put pressure on fuel suppliers and retailers to compete, pushing many to revise their own prices downward in order to attract customers.

Depot prices jump as crude oil climbs

While filling stations have been cutting pump prices, wholesale depot prices climbed sharply on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, across Nigeria's main petroleum hubs. Data from Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Warri showed increases in both petrol and diesel.

According to checks by Petroleumprice.ng, depots including Pivot, Integrated, and African Terminal raised petrol prices from N1,168 per litre on Monday to N1,200 on Tuesday, a N32 jump. Diesel at those depots surged from N1,580 to N1,700 per litre over the same period, a rise of N120. The increase was linked to international crude oil prices moving closer to $90 per barrel.

Adding to the uncertainty is the standoff over Iran's Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Washington must end the ongoing conflict and release Iranian funds frozen abroad before Tehran agrees to reopen the waterway. He added that Iran had passed further demands to the United States through intermediaries, though the details were not made public. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil-shipping corridors, and continued disruption to traffic through it could affect crude supplies globally.

As of 7.20 am WAT on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Brent crude was trading at $89.40 per barrel, up 0.55%, while West Texas Intermediate stood at $83.70 per barrel, up 0.60%.

Earlier, Nigeria's oil and gas regulator, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), released draft regulations aimed at banning petroleum companies from colluding on prices, dividing markets among themselves, or jointly restricting fuel supplies across the country. The draft Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices and Behaviour Regulations, 2026, gave industry stakeholders 21 days to submit written comments before the framework is finalised.

For consumers, the Dangote-driven retail cuts offer short-term relief at the pump. But the sharp rise in depot prices and crude oil costs could put pressure on marketers, and if the trend continues, the recent gains may not last.