NNPC yet to authorise Dangote Refinery to sell fuel, despite shortage and high price
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Dangote Petroleum Refinery says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has not authorised it to supply fuel to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), on the heels of reports that pump price could crash to N400 per litre if the NNPC removes its levies on the refinery.
The refinery owner, Aliko Dangote, has previously cited sabotage by NNPC officials and other elements which has prevented the facility from producing and selling fuel at full capacity – to end scarcity and likely reduce pump price.
Dangote Refinery disclosed on Sunday that it sells petrol at N990 per litre into trucks and at N960 per litre into ships.
Bola Tinubu, whom Nigerians know is both President and Petroleum Minister, has denied the second job title, failing to take responsibility for the sleaze in the ministry and particularly in the NNPC which on October 29 raised pump price to between N1,025 and N1,060 per litre (depending on location), the third price increase in just one month.
A statement issued at the weekend by Dangote Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer Anthony Chiejina denied receiving money from IPMAN, explaining IPMAN members’ money was paid to the NNPC which has not authorised the refinery to sell to independent marketers.
Said he: “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify that it has not received any payments from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria to purchase refined petroleum products.
“Although discussions are ongoing with IPMAN, it is misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN members) are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from our petroleum refinery, as we currently have no direct business dealings with them.
“Consequently, we cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities.
“The payment in mention has been made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and not us. In the same vein, NNPCL has neither approved nor authorised us to release our Premium Motor Spirit to IPMAN.”
“We would like to emphasise that we can meet the nation’s demand for all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel. At present, we can load 2,900 trucks per day and we have also been evacuating petroleum products by sea.
“We advise IPMAN to register with us and make direct payment as we have more than enough petroleum products to satisfy the needs of their members.
“Furthermore, we believe it is instructive for all stakeholders to refrain from making unfounded statements in the media, as that could undermine the economic re-engineering efforts of President Bola Tinubu. Conducting business through public speculation is counterproductive and unpatriotic.
“In the interest of our country, we encourage all stakeholders to collaborate and heed the advice of President Tinubu, while promoting a unified approach, rather than engaging in media conflicts and needless propaganda.”
Dangote Refinery made the clarification in reaction to the demand on October 30 by the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) that the refinery should release its price list which delay has go on for too long.
A day earlier, IPMAN National President Abubakar Maigandi disclosed his members went to Dangote Refinery based in Lekki, Lagos but could not lift products for almost four days.
Maigandi spoke in response to comment made on October 29 by Dangote the man that the facility has more than 500 million litres of fuel in stock but marketers are not lifting it even with fuel shortage stoking high price across the country.
“If the refinery truly has 500 million litres, then there should be no reason our members couldn’t load after four days. We’re willing to buy the product directly if the refinery is ready to sell to us, but for now, our members can’t access it even after paying,” Maigandi said.
PETROAN National President Billy Gillis-Harry also confirmed that retailers have approached the refinery to load products without success, per The PUNCH.
“We have listened to him [Dangote] and as far as I’m concerned what he said is very strange to my hearing. PETROAN had written to him since 2022, we wanted to have a business meeting with him and understand the business dynamics but no way up till now,” Gillis-Harry lamented.
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