By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a temporary suspension of petroleum product sales in Naira, citing the need to align its sales currency with its crude oil procurement obligations, which are currently denominated in U.S. dollars.
In a statement issued on March 19, 2025, the refinery explained that its sales of petroleum products in Naira had exceeded the value of Naira-denominated crude received, necessitating an adjustment in sales currency.
The company assured customers that once it receives an allocation of Naira-denominated crude cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., it will promptly resume fuel sales in the local currency.
Additionally, Dangote Refinery addressed rumors circulating online, refuting claims that it had halted loading due to an incident of ticketing fraud.
The management described such reports as ‘malicious falsehood’ and reaffirmed the robustness of its operational systems, stating that no fraud-related issues had occurred.
The statement reads: “Dear Valued Customers, We wish to inform you that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has temporarily halted the sale of petroleum products in Naira.
“This decision is necessary to avoid a mismatch between our sales proceeds and our crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in U.S. dollars. To date, our sales of petroleum products in Naira have exceeded the value of Naira-denominated crude we have received. As a result, we must temporarily adjust our sales currency to align with our crude procurement currency.
“Our attention has also been drawn to reports on the internet claiming that we are stopping loading due to an incident of ticketing fraud. This is a malicious falsehood. Our systems are robust and we have had no fraud issues. We remain committed to serving the Nigerian market efficiently and sustainably.
“As soon as we receive an allocation of Naira-denominated crude cargoes from NNPC, we will promptly resume petroleum product sales in Naira. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this period.”