Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed media reports linking the surge in petrol imports recorded in November 2025 to an alleged breakdown in supply arrangements between the refinery and petroleum marketers, describing such claims as “inaccurate and misleading.”
In a statement signed by the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery clarified that no supply agreement with marketers had collapsed, stressing that its engagement with the downstream market has remained stable and deliberately structured to meet rising demand while improving access, competition, and efficiency.
The refinery cited remarks by Abubakar Shettima, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), who reaffirmed marketers’ support for the Dangote Refinery and rejected claims of supply disruptions. According to Shettima, IPMAN members have consistently lifted products from the refinery since supply commenced without complaints.
“Our members fully support Dangote Refinery. Since supply began, marketers have consistently lifted products without any complaints. We oppose continued importation because Dangote Refinery has the capacity to meet the country’s entire PMS demand,” Shettima was quoted as saying.
He further noted that marketers were satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s commitment to direct delivery to filling stations, describing the move as critical to stabilizing distribution and delivering better outcomes for consumers. Shettima added that improved access to locally refined products has eased supply pressures, boosted confidence among independent marketers, and reinforced IPMAN’s commitment to domestic refining as a sustainable solution for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
Providing further clarification, Dangote Refinery disclosed that supply under the marketers’ arrangement began in October 2025 with an agreed offtake volume of 600 million liters of premium motor spirit (PMS). This volume, it said, was increased to 900 million liters in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion liters in December, in line with market growth and absorption capacity.
The refinery explained that as part of downstream market liberalization, PMS supply was subsequently opened to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers, and filling station operators. Since December 16, 2025, it noted, the refinery has consistently loaded between 31 million and 48 million liters of PMS daily from its gantry, depending on market demand. These figures, the refinery said, are verifiable through depot and loading records maintained under routine regulatory oversight.
To broaden participation and improve distribution efficiency, Dangote Refinery introduced additional measures, including a reduction in minimum purchase volumes from two million liters to 250,000 liters, as well as a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees. According to the statement, the initiatives were designed to enhance liquidity, support small and medium-sized operators, and reduce reliance on imported fuel.
The refinery added that the expanded access framework has increased utilization of locally refined PMS and contributed to more competitive retail pricing, with domestic products priced significantly lower than imported alternatives. It also dismissed claims that marketers withdrew from lifting products due to pricing concerns, insisting that its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-responsive, and aligned with import parity indicators, while meeting all regulatory and quality standards.
Addressing the spike in petrol imports recorded in November, Dangote Refinery explained that the development coincided with import licensing decisions approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which sanctioned volumes beyond prevailing domestic demand. The refinery stressed that the increase in imports was unrelated to its operational capacity or supply commitments.
Reaffirming its position, Dangote Refinery pledged continued commitment to reliable supply, transparency, and the orderly development of a competitive downstream petroleum market. It also assured sustained collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to promote domestic refining, conserve foreign exchange, moderate fuel prices, and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has firmly denied claims that petrol imports surged due to a breakdown in its supply arrangements, insisting that it has consistently met domestic PMS demand, expanded supply volumes, and maintained strong support from marketers, while attributing the November import spike to regulatory import approvals rather than any failure in local refining or distribution.
