Nigerian oil marketers under the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have called for a free and competitive market where refiners, importers, depot owners, and filling station operators can all operate without restrictions.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, stressed that their priority is ensuring petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products are available and affordable for Nigerians whether sourced locally or through importation.
“PETROAN stands for availability, affordability, and discipline, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA),” he said. “That’s why we strongly oppose any form of monopoly. Everyone should have the right to participate in the market, and importation should not be seen as a crime because the PIA allows it. But as patriotic Nigerians, we encourage developing our internal refining capacity to strengthen our economy.”
No Fear of Monopoly
Responding to concerns that Dangote Refinery and other private refiners might dominate the market, Gillis-Harry dismissed such fears.
“We are not afraid of Dangote or any other refinery taking over the market. What we advocate is that refiners should refine, depot owners should store, and filling stations should keep selling,” he explained.
He also assured that PETROAN members support all refiners in Nigeria, including Dangote Refinery and the state-owned Port Harcourt and Warri refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“Our members lift petroleum products from every available source. We have a long-standing agreement with NNPCL, and we will continue to honour that. But we also buy from Dangote Refinery and other credible suppliers,” he said.
PETROAN, he added, is actively involved in the Dangote-MRS-PETROAN partnership, ensuring that wherever products are available, members can purchase and distribute efficiently.
Nigeria’s Fuel Struggles
For years, Nigeria has faced fuel supply challenges, with long queues at filling stations becoming a common sight. Since President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023, prices have skyrocketed from around ₦200 per litre to over ₦1,000 per litre, making life more difficult for Nigerians who rely on petrol for their vehicles and generators.
To ease supply issues, Dangote Refinery began operations in December 2024, initially processing 350,000 barrels per day, with a target of reaching its full 650,000-barrel capacity later this year. The refinery has started supplying diesel, aviation fuel, and now petrol to the local market.
Similarly, NNPCL announced that the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries are now operational, with petrol loading resuming.
The Way Forward
With multiple refineries coming on stream and PETROAN pushing for a competitive market, the future of Nigeria’s fuel supply looks promising. However, ensuring fair competition and steady supply remains key to stabilising prices and ending the long-standing fuel scarcity problem in the country.