A wave of celebration has swept across Nigerian social media following a significant reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel, announced by the Dangote Group. The development, which saw the price drop to ₦739 per litre, prompted a young Nigerian man to declare a victory for Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, in a post that quickly went viral.
Viral Reaction to a Price Reduction
The excitement began when the Dangote Group communicated a new, lower supply price to its fuel distributors. This move came just days after the Group's President, Aliko Dangote, had publicly pledged to reduce fuel costs. The official statement from the company, shared on its platform, resonated deeply with citizens long accustomed to high and fluctuating fuel prices, especially during the December period.
One social media user, @realadnantweet, captured the public mood by sharing a screenshot of the announcement with the triumphant caption: "Congratulations! Dangote has won the battle." The referenced statement from Dangote reportedly included a firm commitment: "We are going to use whatever resources we have to make sure that we crash the price down this December and January."
Public Praise and Calls for Sustainability
The announcement and subsequent confirmation of the reduced price at various stations triggered an outpouring of gratitude and commentary online. Many users hailed Dangote for disrupting a traditionally difficult period. User @darnoch01 noted, "God will continue to strengthen Dangote, in the past December is the cash out time for fuel station staffs but now everything is cool and calm."
Others expressed hope that the reduction would be sustained beyond the promised months. @Adeyimika05 queried, "So it's only December and January or what??" while @chrisCrypto369 urged, "You will most likely win this battle also but please keep prices low and reasonable when done."
The conversation also turned to broader economic issues, with user @KayodeAbraham12 suggesting that even lower prices are feasible, stating, "PMS can still come down to N350/ltr and these energy enterprises & corporation would still make good profit."
A Shift from the December Norm
For many Nigerians, a price drop in December marks a significant departure from history. User @Deprinse01 highlighted this, saying, "Nigerians are happy this reductions in fuel pricing is happening for the first time ever in December which was known previously for fuel shortage and consequently causing unnecessary agony of queues." The user, embodying the spirit of Oliver Twist, added a request for further reductions for greater public comfort.
However, not all perspectives were purely celebratory. Some, like @Vibes_with_Rey, pointed out the potential ripple effects on retailers who had already purchased stock at higher prices, remarking, "Na dangote go finally close all petrol stations. Your customer stocked fuel at a high price, now you come reduce price."
The news was corroborated by separate reports from individuals who visited filling stations in Lagos and confirmed purchasing fuel at the new rate of ₦739 per litre, lending tangible proof to the corporate announcement. This real-world validation helped fuel the optimistic online discourse, painting a picture of cautious relief among Nigerians as the year draws to a close.
