In a bold move to protect Nigerian consumers during the festive season, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has unveiled a dedicated hotline enabling citizens to report any MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling station selling Premium Motor Spirit above the approved pump price of N739 per liter.
The initiative, announced late Sunday evening, signals an escalation in the refinery’s campaign to ensure price compliance across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, where consumer exploitation has long been a persistent challenge.
The toll-free number—0800 123 5264—is now operational across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, providing consumers with a direct channel to flag pricing violations at any of the MRS stations nationwide.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid purchasing PMS at inflated prices when locally refined fuel is available at ₦739 per liter,” the refinery stated in Sunday’s announcement. “Report any MRS station selling above this price by calling our hotline. Together, we can ensure that the benefits of this price reduction reach every consumer.”
The consumer protection measure follows Dangote Refinery’s recent decision to commence nationwide petrol sales at N739 per liter—a price point the company describes as a “strategic intervention” designed to stabilize fuel costs and provide financial relief to Nigerians during the typically expensive festive season.
With a guaranteed daily production capacity of 50 million liters, the refinery has positioned itself as a reliable alternative to imported fuel, which has historically subjected Nigerian consumers to volatile international market prices and exchange rate fluctuations.
In unusually strong language, Dangote Refinery issued a stern warning to what it termed “unscrupulous operators” who might attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply chains to undermine the price reduction.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable,” the statement declared, calling on regulatory authorities to “remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period.”
The warning reflects long-standing concerns within Nigeria’s petroleum sector, where artificial scarcity has historically been used by marketers to justify price hikes and maximize profits during periods of high demand.
Beyond consumer protection, Dangote Refinery emphasized the broader economic benefits of local refining at scale. The facility’s operations are expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products—a drain that has cost the nation billions of dollars in foreign exchange over decades.
“By refining locally at scale, Dangote Refinery is reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports, conserving foreign exchange, stabilizing the Naira, and strengthening energy security,” the company noted, framing the initiative as “a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward sustainable energy solutions and economic recovery.”
Industry analysts view the hotline as an innovative approach to market regulation, effectively deputizing millions of Nigerian consumers as price monitors. This grassroots enforcement mechanism could prove more effective than traditional regulatory oversight in a country where compliance monitoring has historically been inconsistent.
The refinery’s emphasis on transparency and accountability represents a departure from the often opaque practices that have characterized Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector for years.
As the festive season approaches—a period traditionally marked by increased travel and heightened fuel demand—the success of this initiative may well determine whether Nigerian consumers finally experience sustained relief at the pump or whether entrenched interests will find ways to circumvent the intended price controls.
For now, Nigerian motorists have been advised to remain vigilant, verify prices at the pump, and make use of the hotline to report violations—effectively becoming active participants in the effort to ensure fair pricing in the nation’s petroleum market.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Dangote Refinery has launched a consumer hotline (0800 123 5264) for Nigerians to report any MRS filling station selling petrol above N739 per liter. This marks a significant shift toward consumer empowerment in Nigeria’s notoriously opaque fuel market, where price exploitation has been rampant. With 50 million liters of daily production capacity, the refinery is positioning locally refined fuel as an affordable alternative to imports while warning against artificial scarcity tactics.
Nigerian consumers now have both a fair price benchmark and a direct tool to hold fuel marketers accountable—potentially ending decades of unchecked pricing violations if citizens actively use the reporting system.
