The Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced that it has not received permission to sell petrol, known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). This statement was made after a group of oil dealers asked the refinery to clarify its petrol prices, expressing frustration over the lack of communication.
IPMAN’s President, Abubakar Maigandi, noted that his members had been trying to get petrol from the refinery for almost four days without success. He pointed out that if the refinery really has 500 million litres of petrol available, it should not be so difficult for them to fill up their trucks. He explained that they are ready to buy the petrol directly but are currently unable to access it.
In response, Anthony Chiejina, a spokesperson for Dangote Group, clarified that the company has not taken any payments from IPMAN members. He said that any payments made were done through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which has not authorized Dangote to sell petrol to IPMAN. Chiejina emphasized that Dangote has the capacity to meet the country’s fuel needs and can load 2,900 trucks per day. He encouraged IPMAN to register and make direct payments to them if they want to buy petrol.
Read Also: FBN Holdings Gross Earnings Reach N2.25 Trillion
Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association (PETROAN) urged the Dangote refinery to share its petrol prices. They expressed surprise at Dangote’s claim of having enough petrol for local demand, stating that just voicing this doesn’t lead to actual sales. Dr. Joseph Obele from PETROAN pointed out that if Dangote had announced a competitive price during his press conference, it would have attracted buyers.
Additionally, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) reassured the public that there is enough petrol available and urged people not to panic buy. They mentioned that the supply situation is stable, with significant stocks available from both the Dangote Refinery and other suppliers.
In summary, there are communication issues between Dangote and the independent marketers regarding petrol sales, and while there are sufficient petrol supplies in the country, both parties need to work together to clarify pricing and authorizations.
