Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Limited, has explained that the complicated dynamics of market forces were the main cause of the recent drop in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also referred to as gasoline, to N899.50 per litre at its loading gantry. Additionally, he stated that it is his duty to protect the multibillion-dollar company's investments and interests.
These claims were made by the business magnate in an interview that our journalist was able to access on Wednesday from an Arise TV documentary that was uploaded to YouTube. "To put it simply, the price reduction is a response to the market," he stated. We invested more than $20 billion in this refinery; therefore, I believe we need to attempt to safeguard our interests and also our investment.
The ex-depot price of the Dangote refinery's gasoline was lowered from N970 to N899.50 per liter on December 19, 2024. The downstream industry experienced fierce pricing competition as a result, which compelled NNPCL to lower its ex-depot price to N899 per litre.
To the pleasure of Nigerians, the refinery also announced that it would be partnering with MRS Petrol station to offer petrol from its retail outlets countrywide for N935 per litre.
Dangote continued the conversation by restating that the 650,000 barrels per day refinery will revolutionize Nigeria's overall economy in addition to the oil industry.
He emphasized that the pressure on foreign exchange increases when the nation imports petroleum products.
"People who deal in petroleum products account for 40% of our demand for foreign exchange, and the more we allow imports to enter the country-not because I don't want them, but because most of those letters of credit open for petroleum products and the goods are not coming into Nigeria-the more we continue to use the majority of our foreign exchange out of the country," he stated.
Comments