The ongoing rivalry between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery has taken another turn, with reports alleging that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is behind a campaign against NNPCL.

A report by Nigeria Voice claims that Dangote’s media team sponsored a negative article targeting NNPCL and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

The article alleged that NNPCL imported over 200 million litres of petrol in February despite the overhaul of its refineries.

NNPCL has not officially responded to the allegations, but petroleum marketers told DAILY POST that available data does not support the claim that NNPCL imported such a large quantity of petrol in mid-February 2025.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST contacted Dangote Industries Limited for a response, but the company had not replied as of the time of reporting.

The competition between Dangote Refinery and NNPCL has also sparked debates over fuel prices and quality. A viral video showed a reviewer comparing petrol bought from an MRS Filling Station (selling Dangote fuel) and an NNPCL station.

The reviewer claimed that while Dangote’s petrol-powered a generator for 33 minutes, NNPCL’s fuel only lasted 17 minutes.

NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye dismissed the claim, calling it baseless and unfounded.

The battle between the two oil giants intensified after NNPCL reopened the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. Currently, there is a price war, with MRS stations (selling Dangote fuel) pricing petrol at N945 per litre, while NNPCL stations sell it at N965 per litre.

With both companies trying to dominate Nigeria’s fuel market, the competition between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery is far from over.