Dangote Refinery has announced that its free fuel distribution scheme will kick off fully on Monday, September 15.
The company said it will start with the South-West, the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Delta, Rivers, and Edo states.
The refinery has cut petrol retail prices to N841 per litre in Lagos and the South-West, and N851 per litre in Abuja, Edo, Kwara, Rivers, and Delta. This move is expected to alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians and stimulate economic activity.
The programme, initially scheduled for August, was delayed due to logistics challenges in China. More than 1,000 trucks have now been received to kick-start the scheme, while additional states are expected to benefit as more vehicles arrive.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery said it has invested over N720 billion to deploy 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for nationwide distribution. This landmark initiative is expected to save Nigerians over N1.7 trillion annually.
The company added that it would absorb over N1.07 trillion in annual fuel distribution costs. This move is designed to reduce pump prices, ease inflationary pressures, and enhance profitability for over 42 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The refinery aims to meet Nigeria’s daily consumption of 65 million litres of refined products, including 45 million litres of petrol, 15 million litres of diesel, and 5 million litres of aviation fuel.
From Monday, Dangote will directly deliver petroleum products to filling stations, industrial facilities, and other high-volume consumers. This will eliminate transportation costs for marketers and large-scale buyers.
The Presidency has described the scheme as a pivotal step in mainstreaming gas-powered transport. The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has also welcomed the move, saying it would significantly ease long-standing logistical burdens.
Some retail outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have reduced petrol prices to N850 per litre. The new price for Lagos reflects a N15 reduction from the average price of N865 per litre.
