The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, has accused local petroleum marketers of boycotting the Dangote Refinery’s petrol, despite offering lower prices.
Speaking during a Nairametrics X space session on Thursday, Edwin claimed only 3 percent of local marketers were interested in buying the refinery’s petrol, opting instead for imported products.
However, petroleum marketers have refuted the claim, arguing they have not been provided with Dangote’s petrol price list.
The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, Billy Gillis-Harry said marketers are willing to buy from the Lagos-based refinery but need clear pricing to make informed decisions.
“We don’t know how much Dangote is selling its petrol. We are willing to partner with him but want terms that are reasonable,” he said.
Abubakar Maigandi, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), also denied any boycott, stating that no official communication about pricing had been received from Dangote Refinery until recently. Maigandi added that IPMAN is planning a meeting with Dangote Refinery to discuss the partnership.
NNPCL Spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye dismissed the notion that marketers would avoid cheaper petrol, noting that negotiations with Dangote Refinery are ongoing ahead of the planned commencement of fuel lifting on September 15.
“We are currently negotiating prices with the Dangote Refinery and do not believe local marketers will boycott PMS with lower prices,” Soneye said.
