Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed media reports claiming that the surge in petrol imports in November 2025 was caused by a breakdown in supply arrangements between the refinery and petroleum marketers, describing such reports as “inaccurate and misleading.”
In a statement signed by the Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery clarified that no supply agreement with marketers had collapsed and that its engagement with the downstream market remains stable and well-structured to meet rising demand.
The statement quoted the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Shettima, as saying: “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 added that marketers were satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s plan for direct delivery to filling stations, noting that the move would help stabilise distribution and benefit consumers. According to him, improved access to locally refined products has eased supply pressures and boosted confidence among independent marketers.
Dangote Refinery explained that PMS supply under the marketers’ arrangement commenced in October 2025 with an offtake volume of 600 million litres, which was increased to 900 million litres in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion litres in December. It said volumes were scaled up in line with market growth and absorption capacity.
The refinery also disclosed that, in keeping with downstream market liberalisation, PMS supply was opened to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers and filling station operators. “Since December 16, 2025, Dangote Refinery has consistently loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, subject to market demand,” the statement said, noting that the figures are verifiable through regulatory depot and loading records.
To broaden participation and improve distribution efficiency, the refinery said it reduced minimum purchase volumes from two million litres to 250,000 litres and introduced a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees. These measures, it said, were designed to enhance liquidity, support small and medium-sized operators and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
Dangote Refinery further rejected claims that marketers withdrew due to pricing concerns, maintaining that its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-responsive and aligned with import parity indicators, while meeting regulatory and quality standards.
Addressing the reported spike in petrol imports in November, the refinery attributed it to import licences approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which sanctioned volumes beyond prevailing domestic demand. It stressed that the development had no connection to its operational capacity or supply commitments.
The refinery reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, reliable supply and the orderly development of a competitive downstream petroleum market, pledging continued collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to promote domestic refining, conserve foreign exchange, moderate fuel prices and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
