Nigerian petrol marketers face delays accessing Dangote Refinery fuel stock, prompting a shift to imported options amid rising petrol prices.
Nigeria’s independent petrol marketers have expressed frustration over difficulties in purchasing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) directly from Dangote Refinery amid escalating fuel prices.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Chairman, Abubakar Maigandi, raised these concerns during an interview on Wednesday, citing prolonged registration delays and operational obstacles at the refinery.
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Maigandi’s remarks come after Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, noted that petrol retailers have largely avoided purchasing PMS from his refinery, despite a reported stock of 500 million litres.
Dangote, addressing this on Tuesday during a meeting between the Naira-for-crude implementation committee and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also disclosed that the refinery is currently operating at a financial loss.
According to Maigandi, IPMAN members face challenges accessing Dangote’s petrol, with marketers recently spending up to four days attempting to load fuel on-site without success.
“Recently, some of the IPMAN marketers that NNPC sent to Dangote Refinery to lift gasoline stayed with their trucks for four days; they are unable to load,” he said.
The association has called on Dangote Refinery to expedite registration processes to allow direct fuel loading for IPMAN members to improve distribution efficiency.
Despite Dangote’s assertion that sufficient stock exists, IPMAN’s direct purchase efforts remain hindered by procedural requirements from the refinery.
Maigandi reported that Dangote Refinery has mandated that marketers purchase fuel collectively, a condition which IPMAN has accommodated by forming groups.
“We have submitted an application, but Dangote Refinery has yet to register us, talkless of going to the refinery to lift the product,” Maigandi stated, adding that repeated follow-up efforts have only yielded further delays.
Furthermore, Maigandi highlighted that many marketers are now opting for imported petrol due to ongoing access and pricing issues at Dangote Refinery.
With fuel prices in Nigeria currently ranging from ₦1,030 to ₦1,250 per litre, the delays have pressured marketers to turn to more accessible imported alternatives, adding strain to local fuel costs.
This situation underscores the operational challenges within Nigeria’s fuel sector as stakeholders seek to stabilise fuel prices and ensure consistent supply amid economic pressures.
