By Ayomide Otitoju
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed media reports linking the surge in petrol imports in November 2025 to an alleged breakdown in supply arrangements between the refinery and petroleum marketers, describing the claims as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement signed by the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery clarified that no supply agreement with marketers had collapsed and that its engagement with the downstream market remained intact and effective.
The refinery cited comments by the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Shettima, who affirmed that marketers have continued to lift products consistently since supply commenced, without complaints. Shettima was quoted as saying that IPMAN members fully support Dangote Refinery and oppose continued fuel importation, noting that the refinery has the capacity to meet Nigeria’s entire premium motor spirit (PMS) demand.
According to the statement, Shettima added that marketers are satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s plan to deliver products directly to filling stations, describing the initiative as critical to stabilising distribution and benefiting consumers. He also noted that improved access to locally refined products has eased supply pressures and strengthened confidence among independent marketers, reaffirming IPMAN’s commitment to domestic refining as a sustainable solution for the downstream petroleum sector.
Dangote Refinery explained that supply to marketers began in October 2025 with an agreed offtake volume of 600 million litres of PMS, which was increased to 900 million litres in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion litres in December. It said the incremental increases reflected market growth and absorption capacity.
The refinery disclosed that, in line with downstream market liberalisation, PMS supply was subsequently opened to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers and filling station operators. Since December 16, 2025, it said it has consistently loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, depending on market demand, adding that these figures are verifiable through depot and regulatory records.
To improve access and distribution efficiency, the refinery said it introduced several measures, including reducing the minimum purchase volume from two million litres to 250,000 litres and offering a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees. It noted that the initiatives were designed to enhance liquidity, support small and medium-sized operators and reduce reliance on imported fuel.
Dangote Refinery added that the expanded access framework has increased utilisation of locally refined PMS and contributed to more competitive retail pricing, with domestic products priced significantly lower than imported alternatives. It also rejected claims that marketers withdrew due to pricing concerns, stating that its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-driven and aligned with import parity benchmarks, while meeting regulatory and quality standards.
Addressing the spike in petrol imports recorded in November, the refinery said the increase coincided with import licences approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which authorised volumes beyond prevailing domestic demand. It stressed that the development was unrelated to its operational capacity or supply commitments.
The refinery reaffirmed its commitment to reliable supply, transparency and the orderly development of a competitive downstream petroleum market, pledging continued collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to support domestic refining, conserve foreign exchange, moderate fuel prices and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
