The petroleum marketers association argued that there is no way its members will boycott Dangote Refinery Petrol with cheaper prices
By Kehinde Okeowo
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has refuted claims by the Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Edwin Devakumar that its members boycotted Dangote Refinery’s Premium Motor Spirit otherwise called petrol, despite offering lower prices.
Edwin while speaking during an X space session organised by Nairametric on Thursday said only 3 percent of local petroleum marketers were interested in buying its recently rolled-out petrol.
He also threatened that the refinery will be forced to export 95-97 percent of its petrol due to low patronage by marketers in Nigeria.
Edwin said, “I’m selling 2 to 3% to small traders who are willing to buy, while the rest 95 to 97% I’m forced to export,” while speaking about the quantity of the refinery’s Products sold locally.
Following the statement, Nigerians took to social media to condemn the action of the petroleum marketers, urging the federal government to intervene.
Reacting to the public outburst during an interview with DAILY POST, President of IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi denied the claim, insisting that local marketers cannot boycott Dangote Refinery’s petrol as claimed.
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He explained that IPMAN and its members did not receive any message from Dangote Refinery over its petrol until Wednesday, noting that marketers have yet to know the price of the firms’ petrol.
Maigandi further said there is no way marketers would boycott Dangote Refinery Petrol with cheaper prices.
He noted that marketers are ready to patronize the refinery provided that its petrol prices are not more than the prices they are getting from other places.
He added that IPMAN held a meeting on Thursday to discuss a partnership request letter written by Dangote Refinery, saying his association plans to meet with the firm to marshal out how to implement the partnership.
“We will hold a meeting with Dangote Refinery.
“We didn’t receive any information on Dangote Refinery until yesterday (Wednesday). We don’t know the price of Dangote Refinery’s Petrol.
“After a meeting with our members today (Thursday), we are ready to buy Petrol from Dangote Refinery in any condition provided the price is not more than the price we are getting from other places.
“NNPCL, you know they are the sole importer, the company sells to us at an average price of N875 per liter.
“For the NNPCL product, we sell at N930 or N940 depending on how the product was obtained. While at the depot, we buy at N990 per liter. We are marketers, anywhere we can get it at a lower rate, we will go there.
“In the letter to us, Dangote said the PMS is ready. The price was not stated.
“We can’t boycott Dangote Refinery; if Dangote Refinery’s petrol is cheaper, how can marketers boycott the product?
“We don’t have any issue with Dangote Refinery”, Maigandi said.
