by The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed concerns over the price of petrol from Dangote Refinery, asking the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to ensure it is not more expensive than imported fuel.
IPMAN said that selling locally refined petrol at a higher price would undermine the goal of energy self-sufficiency and negatively affect both consumers and marketers. They emphasized that locally produced petrol should be cheaper, offering Nigerians an affordable option.
John Kekeocha, IPMAN’s National Welfare Officer, spoke on Channels Television, questioning the logic of higher prices for Dangote’s petrol compared to imported fuel. He said, “If NNPC sells Dangote products higher than imports, then what’s the point of all the celebration?”
The NNPCL recently started distributing petrol from Dangote Refinery at N898 per litre. However, Dangote Refinery denied this, calling the NNPCL’s claim “misleading.” Dangote added that the sale was done in dollars and provided significant savings over imports. The NNPCL challenged Dangote to release the actual price it charged.
Dangote Refinery began operations in December 2022 with plans to reach full capacity by the end of 2024. Although the refinery is producing diesel, aviation fuel, and now petrol, Nigeria still struggles with energy issues, relying on imports for refined products. Fuel prices in the country have tripled since the removal of subsidies in May 2023.
