By Sarah Achile
Lagos, Nigeria – July 18, 2025:
In a startling development, the Dangote Refinery has uncovered a large-scale fuel diversion racket involving some of its distribution partners. The discovery has prompted the immediate suspension of the refinery’s widely anticipated fuel discount scheme, pending further internal investigations.
The management of the $19 billion facility, which is Africa’s largest oil refinery, confirmed that certain partners were found to have diverted subsidized fuel meant for specific retail and regional distribution. The fraudulent activity, which was uncovered during routine audits and internal surveillance, has reportedly caused significant disruptions in the refinery’s pricing and supply structure.
“This unethical practice undermines the integrity of our operations and compromises our commitment to fair and transparent distribution,” a senior Dangote Group official stated, while assuring the public that all culprits would be held accountable.
The refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, has been at the center of Nigeria’s quest to attain fuel sufficiency and reduce import dependency. Its discount scheme, which was recently introduced to cushion the impact of soaring fuel prices on local marketers and consumers, was hailed as a relief to the downstream sector.
Industry observers have expressed concern over the development, noting that this could trigger temporary supply bottlenecks and price adjustments. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies are expected to collaborate with the refinery to ensure a swift and thorough investigation.
As the Dangote Refinery takes corrective steps, stakeholders await the resumption of the discount scheme and a return to normalcy in the fuel distribution network
