Dangote Refinery has announced its petrol pricing structure, stating that it sells at N990 per litre for truck distribution and N960 per litre for sales to ships. This disclosure follows assertions by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) that they can import petrol at lower prices than those offered by the refinery.
In response, Dangote Refinery has defended its pricing, emphasizing that its rates are based on international benchmarks and aligned with quality standards. In a statement issued by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, the company contended that fuel priced below its rates could only be imported by compromising on quality.
“Both organizations claim to import PMS at prices lower than ours. We benchmark our rates against global prices, and we believe our pricing remains competitive. Any cheaper petrol is likely substandard, with international traders taking advantage to dump lower-quality fuel into Nigeria,” Chiejina stated, adding that this practice endangers Nigerian consumers and vehicle longevity.
Chiejina also highlighted the challenges in quality assurance, noting that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) lacks adequate lab facilities to screen out substandard products when imported.
Following fuel market deregulation, the NNPCL set the industry benchmark at N971 per litre for ship deliveries and N990 for truck sales, which Dangote Refinery has adopted. “We have actually gone below this for ships at N960 per litre while maintaining N990 for trucks,” Chiejina clarified, stressing the refinery’s commitment to offering competitive prices that meet quality standards.
