The Executive Secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Olufemi Adewole, has refuted claims that oil marketers buy products exclusively from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
During a live interview on Arise on Monday, Adewole dismissed the recent reports. He described them as “false and misleading” and said no such directive or agreement exists.
“The publication claiming we buy only from Dangote did not come from us,” he said. “It was published by two media houses. They misquoted my earlier interview and twisted the facts. We are ready and willing to buy from Dangote, but the claim of exclusivity is not true.”
DAPPMAN Prefers Vessel Loading Over Gantry
Adewole explained that DAPPMAN members prefer marine loading to road loading. Their depots are built for vessel supply and are located along the coast, from Lagos to Calabar.
“Dangote uses only gantry loading through road tankers. That may work for some, but not for us. We need vessel-based loading to operate efficiently,” he said.
He warned that supplying all petrol stations from Dangote’s Lekki gantry could cause serious problems. It would overload the roads and worsen congestion in Lagos.
“Imagine all retail outlets getting fuel from one gantry in Lekki. The result would be traffic gridlock and rapid wear on the roads. It is not feasible or advisable.”
No Coastal Price Yet From Dangote Refinery
According to Adewole, DAPPMAN has engaged Dangote Refinery for months. But the company has not released a marine loading price. Without that price, coastal loading cannot happen.
“We’re in limbo until they give us a coastal price,” he said. “Thankfully, the Petroleum Industry Act allows us to import. We can do that if Dangote doesn’t meet our needs.”
Clarification on NAFTA Quality Reports
Adewole also addressed reports on the quality of NAFTA from NNPC’s refineries. He said the quotes in circulation misrepresented him. He clarified that he only cited the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
“I quoted the Authority Chief Executive, who said Port Harcourt Refinery is producing NAFTA,” he said. “That statement didn’t come from me or DAPPMAN. We’re not lifting from Port Harcourt or Warri, so it’s not part of our operations.”
Most Marketers Still Import Products
Only a few DAPPMAN members are lifting from the Dangote refinery. These are marketers who meet the minimum volume requirement of 2 million litres through the Lekki gantry.
Others continue to rely on imports, despite foreign exchange pressure.
“We still import when needed, even with the dollar strain,” Adewole said. “Until Dangote provides the volume and logistics we require, importation remains necessary.”