The volatility of crude oil prices in the international market has had a negative impact on Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, with importers and depot operators raising petrol prices to between N905 and N940 per litre. In contrast, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has maintained its ex-depot price at N825 per litre. According to data gathered, Rainoil increased its price to N920 from N850 per litre, while Fynefield and Mainland raised their ex-depot prices to N930 and N920, respectively, an increase of N50 and N10. Additional pricing data showed Sigmund selling at N920 per litre, Matrix Warri at N910, and NIPCO rising sharply to N920 from N827 the previous week. Aiteo was reported selling petrol at N920 per litre. Further increases were recorded as Swift Oil moved to N920, Emadeb and Wosbab to N910, and First Royal to N905. Pinnacle made the most significant adjustment, now selling at N940 per litre. These price hikes follow sustained gains in global crude oil markets, with Brent crude tradin...
The Centre for Oil Sector Accountability and Reform (COSAR) has dismissed claims by the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) that Dangote Refinery’s business model poses a threat to competition and employment in the downstream petroleum sector. In a detailed statement issued on Monday by Dr Raymond Osaremen Okojie, president of COSAR, the group said PETROAN’s criticisms of the refinery’s adoption of a forward integration strategy and its planned use of a private sector equalization system reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of free-market economics. “The recent statement credited to PETROAN on the impact of the introduction of a private equalization fund betrays the very ethos of running a free market,” Dr Okojie said. “What Dangote is offering is a private sector equivalent of the petroleum equalization fund that was established in 1975 by General Yakubu Gowon, amended in 1989 by General IBB, and modified into bridging allowances in 2021.” He ex...