Dangote Petroleum Refinery has resumed the sale of petrol in naira, just a day after suspending the policy, following swift intervention from the federal government.
In an email to clients, the refinery confirmed the move, crediting the decision to the intervention of the Naira-for-Crude Technical Committee chairman.
“Following the intervention of the Naira for Crude Technical Committee chairman, we are pleased to inform you of the resumption of PMS sales in naira commencing immediately,” the statement read.
Customers were advised to begin placing orders in naira, with the option of self-collection or free delivery to designated locations nationwide.
The brief suspension last Friday had been blamed on the depletion of the refinery’s crude-for-naira allocation.
Nigeria introduced the crude-for-naira policy on 1 October 2024 to boost domestic supply, curb costly imports, and stabilise pump prices. However, in March this year, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited halted the scheme until 2030, citing forward sales of its crude oil.
This prompted Dangote to temporarily stop naira-based sales, sparking public concern. But in April, the federal government confirmed the initiative would continue beyond its first phase, which ended on 31 March.
By May, Finance Minister Wale Edun promised further clarification, signalling the administration’s commitment to sustaining the scheme.
The latest development offers a breather for consumers already grappling with high energy costs, restoring confidence in the naira-for-crude programme.