MRS Stations in Lagos, Ogun Defy Dangote, Sell Petrol Above N739

By SAMUEL MOBOLAJI

Some MRS filling stations in Lagos have flouted the newly approved N739 per litre pump price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), barely hours after Dangote Petroleum Refinery directed Nigerians to report any outlet selling above the stipulated rate.

A spot check by The Daily Times on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, revealed cases of non-compliance across key locations in Lagos, raising concerns over enforcement gaps and possible consumer exploitation during the peak festive travel period.

However, findings also showed that while some outlets disregarded the directive, many other MRS stations across Lagos had adjusted their pump prices to the approved N739 per litre, in line with the refinery’s announcement, indicating partial compliance with the pricing order.

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Despite this, The Daily Times confirmed that several stations were still selling above the approved rate. The MRS outlet in Abule Egba was dispensing petrol at N758 per litre as of 9:55 am. Another station along Agunbiade, Oke Koto in Agege, sold the product at N799 per litre around 10:25 am, while motorists at the MRS station in the Ijaiye area paid as high as N770 per litre by 4:55 pm.

Similar violations were also observed outside Lagos. Checks in parts of Ogun State showed that some MRS stations were yet to adjust their pump prices to the approved rate, with outlets along the Mowe–Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reportedly selling petrol far above the N739 benchmark, underscoring that the compliance gap is not limited to Lagos alone.

The price breaches come despite repeated public assurances by Dangote Petroleum Refinery that PMS is being supplied to all MRS stations nationwide at a uniform pump price of N739 per litre. The refinery had earlier stressed that more than 2,000 MRS outlets across the country were expected to immediately reflect the price adjustment.

In a strongly worded statement, Dangote Petroleum Refinery warned marketers against sharp practices, including price inflation and artificial scarcity, describing such actions as unpatriotic and unacceptable, particularly at a time when Nigerians are grappling with high living costs over the holidays.

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The refinery also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report any station violating the approved price, insisting that there was no justification for selling above N739 given the availability of locally refined petrol.

Consumers have expressed frustration over the apparent disregard for the directive, noting that inflated fuel prices further strain household budgets during the festive season, despite official assurances of adequate supply.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has also called on regulatory authorities to move decisively against erring marketers to ensure Nigerians fully benefit from the gains of domestic refining.

With confirmed cases of non-compliance now surfacing alongside evidence of partial compliance, pressure is mounting on regulators and the refinery to swiftly sanction defaulting MRS outlets and enforce the N739 pump price nationwide to restore public confidence and protect consumers.