Nigerians may soon face higher petrol prices following a fresh hike by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which on Friday raised its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N880 per litre. This marks a N55 increase from the previous rate of N825, sparking renewed concerns over fuel affordability and volatility in the downstream market. According to data from *petroleumprice.ng* and a Pro Forma Invoice reviewed by *The PUNCH*, the new rate could drive pump prices above N900 per litre in some regions, particularly those far from major supply points. The price hike comes despite a drop in global crude benchmarks: Brent crude fell by 3.02% to \$76.47 per barrel, WTI declined to \$74.93, and Murban slipped to \$76.97. However, the global dip offers little relief due to ongoing fears of sudden supply disruptions. The refinery's rising reliance on imported U.S. crude, coupled with high operational costs and exchange rate fluctuations, continues to pressure pricing. On Thursday, Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote revealed that the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery is now “increasingly” sourcing crude from the United States. This shift comes amid ongoing supply shortages and under the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude exchange policy. Documents indicate the refinery plans to import approximately 17.65 million barrels of crude oil between April and July 2025, with 3.65 million barrels already delivered over the last two months. Dangote disclosed the supply challenges during a briefing with the Technical Committee of the One-Stop Shop for the sale of crude and refined products in naira, noting that the refinery is still struggling to secure adequate local crude volumes.