The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the suspension of petrol sales in naira, a move that has unsettled fuel marketers and heightened concerns about renewed pressure on pump prices and foreign exchange.
In an email sent to customers at 6:42 p.m. on Friday, the refinery revealed that naira-based transactions will be halted from Sunday, September 28, 2025, citing the depletion of its crude-for-naira allocation.
The notice which was issued by the Group Commercial Operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and titled “Suspension of DPRP PMS Naira Sales – Effective 28th September 2025,” advised customers with pending transactions to seek refunds.
“We have been selling petroleum products beyond our allotted Naira-Crude allocations and can no longer sustain PMS sales in naira,”
The statement read. “This suspension takes effect from Sunday, 28th September 2025. Further updates on the resumption of supply will be provided once the situation is resolved. Customers with ongoing naira transactions who wish to request refunds should formally apply.”
The development comes amid growing tension at the facility. Labour unions have accused the refinery of laying off over 800 Nigerian workers. On Friday, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) condemned the alleged dismissals, describing them as “unjust and insensitive,” and threatened nationwide solidarity actions if the matter is not addressed.
However, the refinery’s management denied carrying out mass sackings, insisting that only a few employees were let go for acts of sabotage.
This marks the second time in 2025 that the Dangote Refinery is halting naira-based sales. In March, it briefly suspended local-currency transactions for refined products due to a shortage in crude-for-naira allocations, a decision that fueled fears of fuel “dollarisation” and pushed petrol prices close to ₦1,000 per litre.
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