LA SUITE APRÈS LA PUBLICITÉ

Nigerians are facing a sharp increase in energy costs as the Dangote Refinery officially raised the loading price of petrol.

The ex-depot price has jumped by 75 Naira, moving from 1,200 Naira to 1,275 Naira per litre. Simultaneously, the coastal supply price has climbed to 1,215 Naira. This adjustment, confirmed by company officials on Wednesday, has sent immediate shockwaves through the petroleum market, leaving marketers in a state of panic and citizens bracing for an inevitable spike in retail pump prices nationwide.

The pricing crisis is further compounded by a total halt in operations experienced earlier this week. On Tuesday evening, the refinery suspended the sale of petroleum products due to a major disruption in its proforma invoice entry process.

This technical glitch completely froze loading schedules for both petrol and diesel, paralyzing supply chains. Industry operators warn that such interruptions inevitably lead to higher logistics and distribution costs, a financial burden that will ultimately be passed down to the already struggling final consumer.

The root cause of this domestic price hike is tied to volatile international markets. Global crude oil prices are surging due to escalating geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint. With Brent crude currently trading at over $114 per barrel, the cost of raw materials has become prohibitively expensive.

As a result, the refinery is forced to incur significantly higher expenses to procure crude, leading to a direct transfer of these replacement costs to the Nigerian public.

This development highlights the extreme sensitivity of Nigeria’s domestic fuel market to global shifts and internal technical vulnerabilities. As the refinery struggles with high procurement costs and operational hiccups, the ripple effects are felt across every sector of the economy.

For the average Nigerian, the pain at the pump is no longer a distant threat but a harsh reality, as the synergy of international conflict and domestic price adjustments drives the cost of living to new heights.