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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has granted approval to top petroleum marketers to begin collecting premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as gasoline, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, as stipulated in their mutual agreement. This development is expected to enhance fuel distribution nationwide.
According to the original accord, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retains exclusive rights to distribute petroleum products from the refinery. Notably, NNPCL’s retail arm has already collected the inaugural shipment, consisting of 16.8 million liters of petrol.
Investigations reveal that prominent petroleum marketers, notably 11 Plc, have commenced collecting the product for nationwide distribution to their retail stations, with Lagos being a primary focus area.
One of the marketers who pleaded anonymity, said: “I can confirm that we have some major marketers already lifting from the Dangote Refinery, but it is still under the NNPC arrangement with the refinery, in other words, we are lifting NNPC product from the Dangote refinery. It is not our product. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery.”
Industry observers have noted that independent marketers were unexpectedly omitted from the restructured agreement, potentially disrupting the supply chain and creating market imbalances.
Alhaji Abubakar Garima, National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), revealed in a phone interview that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) holds exclusive access to Dangote’s fuel supply, with the majority of products being distributed to their retail networks.
Read also: Dangote Refinery Rebuts Claims Of ₦898/ltr Fuel Sale To NNPCL
He mentioned that they have not yet commenced purchases from NNPCL as part of the Dangote Refinery deal.
He stated: “Independent marketers are waiting for NNPCL to give the new price of the petroleum products in order to lift from them. We load at the old rate of N875 per litre as most of our members have outstanding stock with NNPCL; we were told that they will be cleared this week.”
The deal appointing NNPCL as the sole off-taker of petrol from the Dangote Refinery has led marketers to warn that they may have no choice but to import fuel to sustain their businesses. They are therefore pushing for the Federal Government to fully deregulate the sector, allowing equal participation.
Checks conducted in Abuja and Lagos yesterday showed that despite NNPC beginning the loading of petrol from Dangote Refinery four days ago, several filling stations were still awaiting deliveries and have been shut.
