The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned Nigerians about a new facility nearby that is being used by an unnamed foreign company to mix low-quality fuel products. They claim this facility is blending substandard fuel to sell in Nigeria, potentially tricking consumers into buying poor-quality petrol.
Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer for Dangote, issued this warning in a statement on Sunday. He said that this practice could harm Nigeria’s refining industry and put public safety at risk.
This statement was partly in response to comments from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and other groups, which claimed that imported fuel is cheaper than the fuel produced by Dangote. Chiejina emphasized that any marketer selling petrol at a lower price than Dangote’s is likely selling low-quality fuel imported in collusion with international traders.
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Recently, oil marketers mentioned that the price of petrol from the Dangote refinery ranges from N1,015 to N1,028 per litre, depending on the amount purchased. In response, these marketers threatened to import fuel and sell it for less than Dangote’s prices.
Although the refinery denied the marketers’ claims, they alleged that there is a scheme with a foreign company to produce and sell lower-quality fuel to compete with Dangote’s high standards. They stated, “We have tried to avoid media disputes, but we feel we must address the false information being spread by IPMAN and others.”
Dangote believes their prices are competitive when compared to international prices. They argue that if anyone claims they can sell petrol cheaper than their prices, they are likely dealing in substandard products, disregarding the health of Nigerians and the lifespan of their vehicles.
The refinery also pointed out that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which is supposed to monitor fuel quality, lacks the necessary laboratory facilities to test for low-quality products.
Currently, the Dangote refinery is selling petrol at N960 per litre for ships and N990 per litre for trucks, which is lower than the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) prices. They made these price cuts in good faith to support the country, even without a clear exchange rate for the crude oil they buy.
Chiejina noted that it’s common for governments to protect local industries to create jobs and boost the economy, citing examples from the US and Europe. He urged the public to ignore misleading information from those who prefer to see Nigeria import fuel instead of supporting local production.
