By Ayomide Otitoju
The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has dismissed reports alleging that its petroleum products are exported to Lomé, Togo, and subsequently re-imported into Nigeria, describing the claims as unfounded, misleading, and contrary to commercial realities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company said it was compelled to respond despite its policy of not engaging with baseless allegations, stressing that the claims lacked verifiable trade data, commercial logic, and alignment with the refinery’s operational practices.
According to the refinery, its primary mandate is to strengthen domestic fuel supply and serve as a leading provider of petroleum products in Nigeria, making any arrangement that allows imported products to compete with its own production contrary to its business objectives.
The company stated that all its sales contracts and tender agreements expressly prohibit the resale or re-importation of Dangote Refinery products into Nigeria.
Dangote Refinery further argued that the economics of the alleged trade route do not support such claims, noting that logistics costs for transporting petroleum products from its facility to Lomé and back into Nigeria are estimated at between $82 and $90 per metric ton.
It explained that such additional costs would significantly reduce profit margins and render the transactions commercially unviable.
“Dangote Refinery does not provide export discounts sufficient to offset these costs or create arbitrage opportunities between export and domestic markets. Simply put, no rational producer would incur additional shipping, storage, financing, and handling costs only for products to re-enter and compete in its primary market,” the statement said.
The refinery also highlighted its strict product traceability systems, which include detailed records of lifting points, nominated vessels, counterparties, and declared destinations, ensuring accountability throughout the supply chain.
It maintained that suggestions that the refinery facilitates or tolerates re-importation are inconsistent with its contractual safeguards and compliance standards.
Reaffirming its longstanding position on reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, the company said any encouragement of re-importation would undermine local refining efforts, place additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and weaken national industrial development.
The refinery therefore reiterated that there is no strategic, economic, or operational basis for claims that it exports products for re-importation into Nigeria.
“The allegation is entirely unfounded and does not withstand scrutiny when measured against market logic, contractual frameworks, and industry practices,” the statement added.
Dangote Refinery reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s energy security, supporting local refining, and contributing to Africa’s broader industrial development agenda.
