The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has rejected the continued importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), insisting that local production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is sufficient to meet Nigeria’s fuel demand.
The association also dismissed reports linking the spike in petrol imports recorded in November 2025 to an alleged breakdown in supply arrangements between the Dangote Refinery and petroleum marketers, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
IPMAN said the reports do not reflect the experience of its members, noting that the commencement of supply from the Dangote Refinery has significantly improved product availability across the country.
Speaking on the development, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said independent marketers fully support the Dangote Refinery, stressing that its operations have stabilised supply without complaints from marketers.
“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 said.
He added that members are satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s commitment to direct delivery to filling stations, describing the initiative as critical to stabilising distribution and benefiting consumers.
According to him, improved access to locally refined products has eased supply pressures and boosted confidence among independent marketers, reaffirming IPMAN’s support for domestic refining as a sustainable solution for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
Similarly, Dangote Petroleum Refinery dismissed the media reports as baseless, clarifying that no supply agreement with marketers had collapsed. The refinery said its engagement with the downstream market was deliberately structured to meet rising demand while enhancing access, competition and efficiency.
In a statement signed by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery disclosed that supply under the marketers’ arrangement commenced in October 2025 with an agreed offtake volume of 600 million litres of PMS.
This was increased to 900 million litres in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion litres in December.
“In line with market growth and absorption capacity, volumes were scaled up accordingly. Subsequently, and in line with downstream market liberalisation, we opened PMS supply to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers and filling station operators,” the statement said.
The refinery noted that since December 16, 2025, it has consistently loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, depending on market demand. It added that these figures are verifiable through depot and loading records maintained under routine regulatory oversight.
To broaden participation and improve distribution efficiency, Dangote Refinery said it introduced measures including a reduction in minimum purchase volumes from two million litres to 250,000 litres, as well as a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees.
The initiatives, it said, are aimed at improving liquidity, supporting small and medium-sized operators and reducing dependence on imported fuel.
The refinery further stated that the expanded access framework has increased utilisation of locally refined PMS and contributed to more competitive retail pricing, with domestic products priced significantly below imported alternatives.
It also dismissed 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 all regulatory and quality standards.
Addressing the surge in petrol imports in November 2025, Dangote Refinery explained that the increase coincided with import licences approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which authorised volumes beyond prevailing domestic demand. It stressed that the development was unrelated to its operational capacity or supply commitments.
The refinery reaffirmed its commitment to reliable supply, transparency 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, stabilise prices and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
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