Dangote refinery cut petrol price as NNPC launch new crude grade for export

Naija oil sector dey bubble with two big news wey go affect market and consumers. For one side, Dangote Petroleum Refinery don announce say dem don reduce price of petrol for gantry to ₦1,200 per litre. Coastal price now dey ₦1,153 per litre. Anthony Chiejina, wey be Dangote Group spokesperson, confirm dis new price wey come after recent increase to ₦1,275.

Chiejina yarn say dis price cut na because of how global oil market dey shake. International crude prices don dip small small, and refinery dey adjust to follow market. Before dis reduction, price don climb from around ₦840 to reach ₦1,275, make pump price for some area even pass ₦1,300. Now, analysts dey hope say dis new price go make retail pump price drop small, give motorists and businesses small relief.

For marketers wey dey buy from Dangote refinery, dis na better alternative to imported fuel wey dey cost more. But refinery still dey face challenge for crude supply. NNPC Limited no dey give dem enough crude, but 650,000 barrels-per-day facility dey still hold ground for Nigeria’s journey to self-sufficiency for petroleum products.

Meanwhile, for export side, NNPC Limited don launch new crude grade wey dem call Cawthorne. Andy Odeh, NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, announce say dis na latest addition to Nigeria basket of crude grades. Cawthorne get API gravity of 36.4, wey mean say e dey light and sweet like Bonny Light. Global market dey value dis kind crude because e fit produce plenty petrol and diesel.

On Sunday, 5th April, 2026, NNPC load first cargo of Cawthorne crude for MT Eburones vessel. Dem carry am go Netherlands to enter international market. Dem export 950,000 barrels via Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading vessel wey dey offshore Bonny, Rivers State. Dis FSO dey help to evacuate crude from OML 18 better, make Nigeria export more reliable and operation more efficient.

Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, talk say dis milestone show direction wey dem set for company. “We dey move from resource potential to resource monetisation,” Ojulari yarn. “Every asset must deliver commercial results.” He commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu policy direction and collaboration from OML 18 partners, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and other stakeholders.

Dis Cawthorne launch follow recent additions like Nembe and Utapate crude grades. NNPC dey use structured approach to optimise production and expand Nigeria presence for global oil market. Company dey focus on partnerships, operational discipline, and innovation to unlock value from Nigeria hydrocarbon resources.

For another development, NNPC don double crude supply to Dangote refinery for March. Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, reveal dis when UN deputy Secretary-General Mrs. Amina Mohammed visit refinery for Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. Dangote say NNPC give dem 10 cargoes for March—six for naira, four for dollars.

But Dangote still dey worry. Supply no still reach 19 cargoes wey refinery need to run smoothly. Refinery dey supplement by importing crude from United States and other African countries. Dangote also complain say international oil companies for Nigeria no dey sell crude to refinery. Dem prefer sell to traders, make refinery buy back at higher prices.

“Dis situation dey affect economy,” Dangote explain. Refinery dey look for more opportunities to buy oil at local prices with local currency to keep fuel costs down and boost energy security across Africa.

Mrs. Amina Mohammed talk say Dangote Industries, especially fertilizer arm, dey important to tackle Africa food security problems. She urge for stronger global partnerships to expand positive impact. UN dey ready to amplify solutions wey fit mitigate food crisis, and Dangote integrated industrial model na critical pathway.

Dangote say his company don increase exports of urea and petrol to African markets wey dey face supply chain issues from Middle East crisis. Dem don ship about 17 cargoes of petrol to African countries to cushion impact. “We get capacity to supply Nigeria and most of West Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa,” Dangote assure.

So, as Dangote refinery dey cut petrol price to give consumers relief, NNPC dey expand Nigeria crude portfolio with Cawthorne grade. Two moves dey show how Nigeria oil sector dey evolve—one dey focus on domestic market, another dey target global competitiveness. Market dey watch to see how dis developments go play out for coming months.