A Nigerian man has taken a bold step by calling out a major filling station for allegedly selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, at a price significantly higher than the official rate announced by the Dangote Group. The incident, which has sparked reactions online, highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing the new fuel pricing policy.
Social Media Report Exposes Alleged Overpricing
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a user identified as @RAD_IB_UMAR directly tagged the official account of the Dangote Group to report an infraction. In his post, the man provided specific details, alleging that an MRS filling station located in Yauri, Kebbi State, was dispensing fuel at N850 per litre. This price is N111 higher than the N739 per litre benchmark price that Dangote recently announced and urged the public to adhere to.
The man accompanied his allegation with a photo as evidence, though the image did not explicitly show a price display. In his message to the conglomerate, he wrote, "Dear @DangoteGroup, MRS Yauri, Kebbi State is selling at N850 per litre." He followed this with a call for intervention, stating, "Please kindly look into it and take necessary actions. Thank you."
Public Reactions and Widespread Complaints
The report triggered a wave of similar complaints from other Nigerians across different states, suggesting the issue might not be isolated to the Kebbi station. Many users seized the opportunity to report other MRS outlets and independent marketers still selling above the recommended price.
One user, @geedayyy, reported that MRS stations in the Ajah area of Lagos were still selling at N820 per litre as of the morning of December 25th. Another user, @shagabo, made a more alarming claim, stating that MRS stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were selling as high as N940 per litre as of December 19th, and that none were observed selling below N900.
Other comments reflected the broader public sentiment. User @Sir_Inyang humorously noted, "A December without fuel scarcity in Nigeria. Perhaps, Nigerians need the God of Dangote in other sectors too..." This comment underscores the significant impact Dangote's entry into the fuel market has had on stabilising supply, even as price enforcement remains a hurdle.
Background and Dangote's Directive
This public reporting follows a clear directive from Dangote. After announcing a price of N739 per litre for its petroleum products, the Dangote Group publicly encouraged Nigerians to report any retail outlet found selling above this stipulated rate. The move was part of an effort to ensure compliance and bring relief to consumers amidst the country's economic pressures.
While many stations have complied, the reports from @RAD_IB_UMAR and others indicate that enforcement mechanisms are still being tested. The situation presents an early challenge for the new pricing framework, highlighting the gap between wholesale price announcements and actual retail practice at some stations.
The outcome of this specific report to the Dangote Group remains to be seen. It puts the spotlight on how effectively the corporate giant can police its own supply chain and ensure its mandated prices are respected at the pump, especially in states far from its Lagos refinery base.
