The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has expressed concerns regarding the pricing of petrol from the Dangote Refinery, urging the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to ensure it is not priced higher than imported fuel.
IPMAN argues that such a pricing disparity would undermine Nigeria’s efforts towards energy self-sufficiency and could negatively affect both consumers and marketers.
This was disclosed by the National Welfare Officer, John Kekeocha in an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme on Monday.
The association stressed that the pricing for domestically refined petrol should capitalize on the benefits of local production, providing a more cost-effective option for Nigerians.
IPMAN highlighted that competitive pricing is essential for the success of the Dangote Refinery and the development of a sustainable fuel market in the country.
“If NNPC can sell Dangote products higher than the imported products then it doesn’t make sense. What is the celebration we are having all these while then?” Kekeocha queried.
NNPCL commenced the distribution of petrol from the Dangote Refinery on Sunday, acquiring the fuel at N898 per litre from the private facility.
Meanwhile, prior to this, NNPCL retail outlets in Lagos were selling petrol at approximately N855 per litre.
The retail price for petrol from the Dangote Refinery has now been set at N950 per litre in Lagos and N1,019 per litre in Borno.
This price increase has raised concerns about its impact on consumer costs and the broader fuel market.
However, Dangote Refinery denied selling petrol to the NNPCL at N898. A spokesman for the refinery Anthony Chiejina in a statement late Sunday described the claim by the NNPCL as “misleading and mischievous”.
