Marketers ready to buy Petrol from Dangote – IPMAN President

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is facing a major hurdle in accessing fuel from the Dangote Refinery, despite paying N40 billion through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Abubakar Maigandi, IPMAN’s National President, expressed frustration that some marketers waited four days with their trucks without loading any product, contrary to NNPCL’s directive .

Maigandi questioned Aliko Dangote’s claim that the refinery has 500 million liters of petrol in stock, ready to supply the nation. “If they truly have the stock, why can’t our members load after four days?” he asked. IPMAN is willing to buy directly from the refinery, but currently, members can’t access the product despite payment .

The Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest, boasts a daily production capacity of over 30 million liters of fuel. Aliko Dangote assured President Bola Tinubu that the facility can meet local demand, with reserves sufficient for over 12 days without imports. However, Maigandi countered that IPMAN members still struggle to access fuel through NNPCL.

*The Way Forward*

Maigandi proposed a solution: “Instead of going through NNPCL, Dangote should register independent marketers directly.” This would streamline the process and prevent delays. IPMAN seeks a willing-buyer, willing-seller relationship, as advocated by deregulation .

*Challenges and Concerns*

– *Price Disparity*: Marketers face pricing hurdles when buying directly from Dangote Refinery, as the price differs from imported petrol ¹.
– *NNPC as Competitor*: IPMAN views NNPCL as a competitor, rather than a facilitator, in accessing fuel from Dangote Refinery .
– *Supply Chain Issues*: The non-availability of products at the source hampers IPMAN’s operations .

As the situation unfolds, IPMAN and Dangote Refinery will likely engage in further discussions to resolve these challenges and ensure a smooth supply chain.