Dangote Refinery debunks shutdown rumours

Abdullateef Fowewe

Dangote Group has debunked shutdown rumours of its Refinary company, confirming that petrol operations are running normally.

The local refinery issues the rebuttal on Monday via its official X account against viral rumours claiming the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was shutting down its petrol (PMS) dispensing or production unit for upgrades or maintenance.

The post, which carried no text caption, featured two attached images—formal statements from the company—emphatically declaring the reports “fake”.

It directly countered claims circulated by certain media outlets, including those amplified on social media, suggesting an indefinite halt to petrol supply that could trigger fuel scarcity.

The clarification follows a late 2025 announcement of routine minor maintenance on the refinery’s Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC), its primary gasoline-producing unit, alongside a brief pause in crude processing scheduled for early January 2026.

This work aims to boost capacity from 650,000 to 700,000 barrels per day.

However, some outlets and online posts exaggerated these plans into fears of a full operational shutdown, prompting public anxiety amid Nigeria’s ongoing fuel market dynamics.

The Dangote Refinery has faced repeated speculation and disputes with regulators and importers since becoming operational, making this debunking a key moment in maintaining public confidence.