The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has expressed confidence that the recent disclosure of aviation fuel pricing by Dangote Petroleum Refinery will enhance market stability, improve transparency and strengthen compliance across Nigeria’s aviation fuel supply chain.
The regulator’s Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita, said the refinery’s decision to publish its indicative gantry price for Aviation Turbine Kerosene, also known as Jet A1, would support ongoing monitoring efforts and help curb arbitrary pricing by marketers. The refinery has set its ex-gantry price at about N1,820 per litre and has committed to publishing updated prices on a daily basis.
According to the authority, although petroleum product pricing has been fully deregulated, the introduction of a transparent pricing benchmark provides a reference point that enables regulators to track compliance during routine nationwide surveillance. Ene-Ita described the move as a practical intervention aimed at easing cost pressures on airlines and preventing further disruption to aviation operations.
The development comes amid mounting concerns from airline operators and passengers over the persistent rise in aviation fuel costs, which has significantly increased operating expenses and contributed to flight disruptions across the country. In response, the regulator had earlier issued a pricing advisory directing that Jet A1 should be sold within a band of N1,760 to N1,988 per litre in Lagos and between N1,809 and N2,037 per litre in Abuja, while also encouraging direct sales from marketers to airlines to eliminate intermediaries.
Despite this guidance, industry sources indicate that some marketers have continued to sell fuel at prices exceeding N2,200 per litre, underscoring ongoing distortions in the market. The NMDPRA noted that the Dangote refinery’s pricing disclosure would help check such practices by providing a transparent baseline for comparison.
The regulator explained that its pricing framework is derived from Platts average benchmarks recorded between April 17 and 23, reflecting prevailing global oil market dynamics. However, it cautioned that actual prices may still fluctuate depending on timing of purchase and external factors, particularly geopolitical tensions such as the ongoing U.S.–Iran crisis, which continues to influence global energy markets.
Ene-Ita added that the refinery’s pricing approach should be viewed as a concession designed to support the aviation sector at a critical time, noting that the regulator would ensure that the benefits are passed through to airlines and, ultimately, passengers.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Group has dismissed reports suggesting a rift between its President, Aliko Dangote, and fellow business leader Tony Elumelu, describing the claims as false and malicious.
In a statement issued by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company said neither Dangote nor the organisation made the claims attributed to them, stressing that the publication misrepresented both personal and corporate positions. It also rejected assertions that the refinery project was financed through personal borrowing from friends, calling such claims inaccurate and unsupported by evidence.
The group reaffirmed that both business leaders maintain a cordial and longstanding relationship, while warning against the growing spread of fabricated statements and the unauthorised use of Dangote’s name and image in misleading or AI-generated content. It said it would pursue legal action where necessary to protect its reputation.
The twin developments highlight ongoing efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation fuel market while addressing broader concerns around transparency, pricing discipline and public trust in the sector.
