The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed concerns over the pricing of petrol from the Dangote Refinery, urging the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to ensure that locally refined fuel is not sold at a higher price than imported petrol.
IPMAN argues that such a price disparity could undermine the nation’s efforts toward energy self-sufficiency and negatively affect both consumers and marketers.
In a statement on Monday, IPMAN emphasised that locally refined petrol should offer Nigerians a more affordable option, reflecting the advantages of domestic production.
The association further noted that competitive pricing is vital for the success of the Dangote Refinery and the sustainability of Nigeria’s fuel market.
IPMAN National Welfare Officer, John Kekeocha, voiced these concerns on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday.
“If NNPC can sell Dangote products higher than the imported products, then it doesn’t make sense. What is the celebration we are having all these while then?” he queried.
On Sunday, the NNPCL began loading the first batch of petrol from the Dangote Refinery, stating that it purchased the fuel at N898 per litre from the private refinery.
Prior to lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery, NNPCL retail outlets in Lagos were selling petrol at around N855 per litre. However, after Sunday’s batch, Dangote petrol was priced at N950 per litre in Lagos and N1,019 in Borno.
In response, Dangote Refinery denied selling petrol to NNPCL at N898 per litre. Anthony Chiejina, a spokesman for the refinery, called the NNPCL’s claim “misleading and mischievous.”
“It should also be noted that we sold the products to NNPCL in dollars, with significant savings compared to their current imports. With this action, there will be petrol in every local government area of the country, regardless of their remote nature,” Chiejina said.
The NNPCL, however, maintained that it acquired the petrol at N898 per litre and challenged Dangote Refinery to disclose the actual price at which the fuel was sold. The NNPCL also released a detailed breakdown of the prices it charges for Dangote petrol at its filling stations nationwide.
Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest industrial facility, commenced operations last December at its $20 billion complex in Lagos, with an initial capacity of 350,000 barrels per day. The refinery aims to reach its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day by year-end, after overcoming regulatory hurdles.
The refinery has already begun supplying diesel and aviation fuel to local marketers and has now moved into petrol production.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces ongoing energy challenges, with all state-owned refineries non-operational and a heavy reliance on imported refined petroleum products. NNPCL remains the primary importer of these essential commodities.
Fuel queues are a common sight in the country, and since the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, petrol prices have tripled—from around N200 per litre to over N1,000 per litre—worsening the situation for citizens who depend on petrol to power their vehicles and generators, due to Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply.