By Mahmoud Muhammad
The Dangote Refinery’s 15 % gantry cut from N828 to N699 per litre on 11 December is finally reshaping the fuel scene in Kano. MRS stations, which have locked in the refinery‑backed cap of N739 per litre, are drawing crowds, while many independent dealers are still selling at N850‑N950 because they’re working off older, higher‑cost stock.
Motorists like Ibrahim Abubakar are feeling the relief – his daily fuel bill dropped from N5,000 to about N4,000, saving roughly N1,000 a day ². But the cheaper price comes with a catch: Uzairu Aminu’s 40‑minute queue at MRS shows the “market friction” that occurs when only a handful of stations have the low price, overwhelming them with demand.
The refinery’s new Free Logistics Program, kicking off in January 2026, is expected to erase the transportation surcharge that usually pushes Kano prices above Lagos, potentially pulling the independent stations down to the N739 level once they run through their existing inventory.
So, Kano is caught between a price paradox – low‑priced fuel that’s hard to get and higher‑priced fuel that’s quicker – until the independent marketers deplete their old stock and adopt the Dangote pricing template.
About The Author
