Dangote Refutes Claims of Selling Petrol More Cheaply in Togo Than in Nigeria

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has firmly denied allegations that it sells petrol in Togo at a cheaper rate than it does in Nigeria.


The allegations, raised by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), suggested that Dangote petrol was being sold at about ₦65 per litre less in Lomé, Togo, compared to the prices available to marketers in Nigeria.


The marketers claimed that Nigerian businesses were at a disadvantage because Dangote’s domestic pricing structure did not adequately account for freight, delivery and other associated costs. They further alleged that some traders preferred buying from Togo because of this supposed price difference, which they argued was affecting their operations in the local market.


In response, Dangote refuted the claims, describing them as misleading and part of attempts to undermine its free petrol distribution logistics initiative. The refinery insisted that the numbers being circulated were not only inaccurate but also lacked transparency.


Dangote pointed out that average pump prices in Lomé stand at around 680 CFA francs per litre, which is approximately ₦1,826. This, it argued, is significantly higher than the pump price of petrol currently available in Nigeria. The company also challenged marketers to provide verifiable evidence of their claims rather than circulating unsubstantiated figures.


The matter is particularly sensitive because if such a pricing discrepancy were true, it could distort the Nigerian domestic market, placing local marketers at a serious disadvantage and encouraging fuel imports despite ongoing efforts to promote self-sufficiency in the sector.


However, Dangote’s defence highlights the importance of considering critical factors such as foreign exchange rates, logistics costs, and the difference between gantry or refinery-level prices and final pump prices before drawing any conclusions.


At present, Dangote maintains that the allegations are false, stressing that petrol is not cheaper in Togo than in Nigeria when all costs are properly calculated. Meanwhile, marketers continue to insist that disparities persist, and that these differences are fuelling tensions in the sector. The controversy highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing pricing, supply, and distribution within Nigeria’s energy market.

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