Dangote Petroleum Refinery has temporarily stopped its fuel discount program following reports of widespread abuse by some affiliated marketers and partners. The scheme, meant to keep fuel prices affordable and ensure availability nationwide, was halted after an internal investigation exposed cases of product diversion and illegal reselling.
According to findings, some marketers who received discounted fuel were passing their loading rights—called Authority To Collect (ATC)—to unregistered third-party dealers. These unauthorized dealers then lifted the discounted fuel and sold it at higher rates, sidestepping the costs of operating filling stations or complying with official retail guidelines.
The discount program was created to help Dangote’s official partners remain profitable despite tight market competition from fuel importers. But the refinery said the misuse of the system had grown so serious that it was affecting operations and disrupting the market.
As a result, the discount offer was officially suspended on July 13, 2025, as confirmed in a letter signed by Group Executive Director, Fatima Dangote. The company expressed disappointment that some partners were selling fuel directly from the refinery’s premises at rates below approved prices.
Despite ending the scheme, Dangote is still honoring discount prices for partners who had already made payments or received release notes before the cutoff date.
Energy analyst Olatide Jeremiah confirmed that the violations were real and involved partners selling Dangote’s discounted products to outside marketers for quick profits. Some even diverted fuel that was given on credit to help ensure consistent national supply.
Even though the scheme is paused, Dangote stated it will not be scrapped. The company is working on new controls and is considering introducing alternative reward systems for genuine partners.
Recent checks on petroleumprice.ng show that many private fuel depots are now selling at similar prices to Dangote’s official partners, suggesting that diverted products may have leaked into the open market.
While the company hasn’t named any of the marketers involved in the fraud, its list of partners includes companies like MRS Oil, Heyden Petroleum, TotalEnergies, and Ardova Plc.
Dangote’s communications lead, Anthony Chiejina, said an official statement will be released later, and stressed that there is no ongoing dispute between the refinery and its partners.
In the meantime, all retailers are being told to stick to the recommended pump prices to avoid further market distortion as Dangote works on fixing the system.
