Petrol prices in Nigeria surged toward N1,000 per litre on October 14, 2025, with Rivers State motorists facing long queues and costs up to N950 per litre in Port Harcourt stations. The spike, driven by disruptions at the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, has worsened scarcity and fueled panic buying across the Niger Delta.
Nationwide, pump prices climbed from N865 to N950 per litre on October 14, 2025, per market surveys. In Rivers, independent outlets charged N900 to N950, while NNPC stations hit N928. Similar hikes hit Edo, Oyo, and Gombe, with prices ranging from N900 to N1,000. In Sokoto, independent sellers pushed to N1,000-N1,050, up from N950-N960, amid closed NNPC outlets.
Marketers, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), blamed depot owners for exploiting a halt in Dangote’s fuel loading since October 9, 2025. IPMAN President Abubakar Shettima noted depots raised ex-depot prices from N830 to N890 on October 13, with Matrix, Fynefield, and Liquid Bulk at N900 by October 14. Northwest hit N895, Pinnacle N885, and RainOil N890. NNPC Retail outlets adjusted to N928 in Lagos and Ogun, reversing August’s drop to N865.
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Chinedu Ukadike, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, confirmed on October 14 that Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) members are finalising independent petrol imports to boost competition and lower prices. “If imports undercut Dangote’s rates, we’ll shift, fostering market rivalry,” Ukadike said. He linked the glitch to a NUPENG strike, internal reorganisation, and 800 worker layoffs at Dangote, reducing output.
DAPPMAN’s daily bulletin on October 10 highlighted restricted loading to Dangote and MRS trucks, creating shortages. Jeremiah Olatide of PetroleumPrice.ng called it a “supply problem like the earlier gas crisis,” worsened by crude shortages.
NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh explained the adjustment mirrors depot hikes, affecting all retailers. Dangote, expected to resume loading on October 15, has not commented.
It bears mentioning that the rise threatens inflation, hiking transport and food costs for Nigerians already strained by 20.1% headline inflation in August 2025.
