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Vibrant West Africa’s Fuel Black Market Collapses On Nigeria’s Subsidy Removal

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Nigeria’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has had a significant impact, resulting in the collapse of a thriving black market in Vibrant West Africa’s Fuel Black Market Collapses On Nigeria’s Subsidy Removal. This informal sector, which played a central role in the region’s economic activity, has been disrupted as the price of cheap contraband Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol, from Nigeria suddenly doubled.

In a report on Monday, American news platform, Reuters, noted that black market fuel vendors and commercial drivers in Cameroon, Benin and Togo, who heavily relied on smuggled petrol from Nigeria, have witnessed their businesses crumble since the subsidy removal. As fuel supplies dwindle, long queues have formed at official petrol stations, where prices are now competitive.

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In Garoua, a town in North-West Cameroon near the Nigerian border, the cost of a litre of petrol on the black market used to be around 300 CFA francs (about $0.48) but it has skyrocketed to a minimum of 600 CFA francs, causing dissatisfaction among customers who perceive the high prices as unjustified.

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The repercussions extend to commercial motorcycles, or okada, leading to conflicts between hand-to-mouth riders and customers demanding low fares, regardless of the circumstances.

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Ousmanou Mal Djoulde, a rider in Garoua, has been forced to more than double his fares, resulting in many customers refusing to pay and business becoming painfully slow, Reuters reported.

The trade in black market fuel holds such significance in the local economy that authorities either turn a blind eye or are complicit. A Reuters reporter in Garoua observed a Cameroonian customs officer seated on a motorcycle being refuelled with smuggled Nigerian petrol.

Unfortunately, there is no reliable data on the volume of fuel smuggled from Nigeria. The head of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, acknowledged that 66 million litres of petrol leave their depots daily, but he could not provide an accurate estimate of local consumption. Smuggling is acknowledged to be rampant.

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According to Reuters, Benin and Togo, neighbouring nations to the west of Nigeria, have also witnessed a decline in supplies and customers for contraband fuel vendors, while official petrol stations have experienced a sudden surge in activity. At the Hilacondji border crossing between Togo and Benin, some black market fuel stalls have closed, leaving vendors waiting with empty containers for potential deliveries.

In the absence of improvements, some individuals have sought alternative livelihoods such as fishing or engaging in other small businesses. The closure of informal fuel depots has left previously employed individuals without work, adding to the unemployment rate.

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According to the United Nations, over 80% of employment in Africa is in the informal sector, making it a crucial driver of economic activity. In Cotonou, the commercial capital of Benin, located about 60 km from Nigeria, long queues have formed at official petrol stations, and some have struggled to meet the sudden surge in demand, particularly from commercial motorcyclist, locally known as “zemidjan.”

A worker at the JNP fuel station in Cotonou, named Janvier, reported that their daily sales have increased from around 2,000 litres to up to 7,000 litres. However, the heightened demand has caused supply shortages, forcing them to turn away customers.

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NNPCL Reduces Fuel Price After Dangote Refinery’s Adjustment

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit pump price on Thursday, according to DAILY POST.

It was confirmed that NNPCL retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have reduced their pump price to N890 per litre from N945.

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This new fuel price has been reflected in NNPCL retail outlets such as mega station Danziyal Plaza, Central Area, Wuse Zone 4, Wuse Zone 6, and other of its filling stations in the nation’s capital.

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The latest downward review of fuel price in NNPCL outlets represents an N55 reduction in fuel pump price.

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It was reduced to N890 per litre this afternoon, down from N945,” an NNPCL fuel attendant told DAILY POST anonymously on Thursday.

This comes a Nigerian filling station, MRS Empire Energy, on Thursday adjusted their fuel pump price to N885 and N946 per litre, down from N910 and N955 per litre.

The latest fuel price reduction trend is unconnected to Dangote Refinery’s ex-depot petrol price adjustment by N30 to N820 per litre from N850 and the price of crude oil in the international market.

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Dangote Refinery Reduces Fuel Price

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot (gantry) price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, by N30, from N850 to N820 per litre, effective from August 12, 2025.

This was disclosed in a statement by the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chijiena, on Tuesday.

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The 650,000-barrel-per-day plant said the move is part of its unwavering commitment to national development, assuring the public of a consistent and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products.

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In line with our dedication to operational excellence and sustainable energy solutions, Dangote Petroleum Refinery will commence the phased deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks for fuel distribution across Nigeria, effective August 15, 2025,” said Chijiena.

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The announcement comes as the refinery prepares to commence direct fuel distribution nationwide. The development is expected to lead petroleum product marketers to reduce their pump prices in the coming days.

In Abuja, the retail fuel price stood between N885 and N970 per litre as of Tuesday evening.

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Indian Refiners Abandon Russia For Nigerian Crude, As Dangote Refinery Relies On US

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India Refineries have abandoned Russian crude for Nigerian crude, while domestic refiner Dangote Refinery relies heavily on West Texas Intermediate crude from the United States of America.

This followed a recent sanction threat by US president Donald Trump on India over continued patronage of Russian crude.

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According to Reuters, industry sources said that Indian Oil Corporation recently bought one million barrels of Nigeria’s Agbami crude for September 2025 delivery in a tender awarded to global trader Trafigura.

Also included are one million barrels of Angola Girassol, one million barrels of US Mars, three million barrels of Abu Dhabi Murban, and two million barrels of Nigerian oil, according to Reuters.

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The report noted that the purchase is part of a broader sourcing spree that has seen Indian refiners secure millions of barrels from non-Russian sources post July 2025.

Meanwhile, Indian refiners secured purchases of Nigerian crude grades; the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is relying on around 60 percent on US and other imoorts to feed its processing units.

Data showed that the refinery imported an average of 10 million barrels in July 2025, saying it was increasingly relying on the US for its feedstock despite the naira-for-crude deal with the Federal Government, which kicked off in October last year.

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According to Reuters, the Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum have bought a million barrels of non-Russian crude billed for delivery in September and October after the US pressured India to halt purchases from Russia.

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Indian state refiners had been largely absent from the Nigerian crude market spotlight since 2022; they have in the past concentrated on Russian crude amid the Russian-Ukrainian war. However, the Indian refiners paused Russian purchases in late July 2025 after pressure from US President Donald Trump.

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On the part of Dangote Refinery, data from commodities analytics firm Kpler showed that in July, US barrels accounted for about 60 percent of Dangote’s 590,000 barrels per day of crude intake, with Nigerian grades making up the remaining 40 percent.

In July, the Dangote refinery’s crude imports surged to a record 590 kbd—driven largely by US barrels overtaking Nigerian supply for the first time—amid ongoing domestic sourcing challenges, Kpler reports.

“While WTI has held a significant share in Dangote’s import slate since March, this is the first time US crude has overtaken Nigerian supply—a shift driven by several factors,” Kpler stated.

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