Dangote Refinery Justifies Petrol Price Amid Criticisms from Marketers
Dangote Refinery has clarified the pricing of its petrol, revealing it sells at ₦990 per litre for truck deliveries and ₦960 per litre when sold directly into ships. This comes in response to recent claims from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), who assert that they can import fuel at more competitive rates than Dangote’s prices.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer Anthony Chiejina, the refinery stated that it benchmarks its prices based on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) guidelines. According to the refinery, its prices are aligned with the international market, ensuring the fuel quality meets high standards—something the refinery suggests may not be the case with cheaper, imported alternatives.
The statement read, “Both organisations claim they can import PMS at lower prices than what is being sold by the Dangote Refinery. We benchmark our prices against international prices and believe our prices are competitive relative to imports.”
Dangote also raised concerns about the possible importation of substandard petrol by some marketers, stating, “If anyone claims they can land PMS cheaper, they are importing substandard products… without concern for the health of Nigerians or the longevity of their vehicles. Unfortunately, the regulator (NMDPRA) lacks laboratory facilities to detect such substandard products.”
The refinery noted that since Nigeria’s transition to deregulated pricing, NNPCL initially set the benchmark price at ₦971 per litre for ship sales and ₦990 per litre for truck sales, a range Dangote Refinery has further adjusted by offering a ₦960 per litre option for ship sales.
The Dangote Refinery’s statement highlights ongoing debates around pricing, quality control, and regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s fuel industry as stakeholders adjust to the realities of the deregulated market.
