Some fuel importers and depot owners have raised alarm over what they describe as a double standard by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing the company of selling petrol to international traders at ₦65 cheaper per litre than the price offered to local marketers.

The Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) claimed the practice was undermining competition and putting local businesses at risk.

The Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Olufemi Adewole, revealed that many of their members had bought petrol from Lomé, Togo, where international traders supplied at prices lower than those quoted by Dangote to Nigerian marketers.

“Dangote is selling to international traders at ₦65 cheaper than what he is selling to us. In some instances, we were able to buy from those people and still bring it to Nigeria. They will take the product to Lomé, claiming they are buying large quantities,” Adewole said in an interview with The PUNCH.

He added that repeated requests for supply allocations had either been ignored or tied to conditions that make business unprofitable, forcing importers to look elsewhere.

Marketers Demand Discounts
Adewole further argued that Dangote’s pricing model placed domestic players at a disadvantage.

“Dangote has to give us a discount for freight cost and other expenses between his jetty and our depots. Without this, we can’t sell competitively. People will continue to import if it’s cheaper abroad,” he insisted.

On his part, the President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, backed DAPPMAN’s position, confirming that the refinery’s products were indeed cheaper in Togo than in Nigeria.

“Exactly, DAPPMAN said the correct thing. It is true. We don’t want to be saying everything. But the way things are going, one day we will say everything,” Gillis-Harry said.

Dangote Refinery Reacts, Denies Claims
However, in a swift response, the Dangote Refinery dismissed the allegations, suggesting that DAPPMAN was behind the recent labour tension with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which accused the company of anti-union practices.

“We now know who is behind NUPENG. Our free delivery starts Monday,” A spokesman for the refinery told journalists on Sunday.

The official also questioned why marketers now sourced fuel from Lomé, asking, “When did they stop buying from Russia and Malta?”

Adewole accused the refinery of using strategically timed price cuts to destabilise the market. He recalled that Alhaji Aliko Dangote once vowed to slash prices whenever importers brought in cargoes, forcing competitors into financial distress.

He described Dangote’s repeated reductions as “calculated moves to stifle competition” rather than patriotic interventions, noting that international buyers were given better deals than Nigerians.

Naija News reports that DAPPMAN insisted that Nigeria’s downstream sector cannot rely on a single refinery.

“While we welcome the Dangote refinery as a major infrastructure project, its contribution has peaked at only 30 to 35 per cent of national demand. The balance continues to be supplied by responsible petroleum product marketers who import and distribute under strict regulation,” Adewole stressed.

He further criticised the refinery’s “free delivery” scheme, claiming marketers were forced to lift 25% of allocations using only Dangote-owned trucks at commercial rates, which added hidden costs.

Refinery to Roll Out CNG Trucks, Slash Prices
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery confirmed that it would begin deploying compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trucks on Monday as part of its logistics-free distribution initiative.

The company said the rollout would reduce the gantry price to ₦820 per litre, with the expectation of lower pump prices across key states.

Naija News reports that the pricing row comes amid a brewing face-off between Dangote and NUPENG, which recently threatened to embark on strike, accusing the refinery of blocking drivers from joining unions.

DAPPMAN said while the matter did not directly involve them, they were “alarmed by the tone and escalation of the crisis,” warning that the dispute could worsen fuel supply stability in a fragile downstream market.

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, on Monday, September 8, raised alarm over Nigeria’s rising debt profile.

As reported by Daily Trust, Abbas warned that it has crossed the country’s statutory threshold and now threatens fiscal sustainability

Speaking at the opening of the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) at the national assembly, Abuja, Abbas said Nigeria’s debt had reached “a critical point” and called for urgent reforms in borrowing practices and oversight.

He said: “As at the first quarter of 2025, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N149.39 trillion, equivalent to about US$97 billion. This represents a sharp rise from N121.7 trillion the previous year, underscoring how quickly the burden has grown. Even more concerning is the debt-to-GDP ratio, which now stands at roughly 52 percent, well above the statutory ceiling of 40 percent set by our own laws.”

He described the breach of the debt limit as “a signal of strain on fiscal sustainability,” stressing the need for “stronger oversight, transparent borrowing practices, and a collective resolve to ensure that tangible economic and social returns match every naira borrowed.”

Abbas warned that across Africa, several countries are in dangerous debt-to-GDP territories, with governments spending more on servicing loans than on healthcare and essential services.

He said: “This is not just a budgetary concern, but a structural crisis that demands urgent parliamentary attention and coordinated reform.”

To address the growing fiscal risks, Abbas announced that Nigeria is ready to champion the establishment of a West African Parliamentary Debt Oversight Framework under WAAPAC.

The framework, he explained, will harmonise debt reporting across the sub-region, set transparency standards, and empower parliaments with timely data to scrutinise borrowing practices.

He also disclosed plans for a regional capacity-building programme for public accounts and finance committees, equipping members with modern tools for debt sustainability analysis and fiscal risk assessment.

Abbas, while warning against reckless debt, said borrowing should be for the purpose of bridging critical infrastructural gaps.

He said: “Borrowing should support infrastructure, health, education, and industries that create jobs and reduce poverty. Reckless debt that fuels consumption or corruption must be exposed and rejected. Oversight is not just about figures, but about the lives and futures behind those figures.”

Furthermore, the speaker reiterated the 10th house’s commitment to accountability, saying that under its Open Parliament policy, major borrowing proposals would be subjected to public hearings, while simplified debt reports would be made available to citizens.

PETROAN has threatened a three-day suspension of fuel sales over alleged monopolistic practices in the downstream oil sector

They accused Dangote Refinery of adopting aggressive business strategies that could cause job losses

The association urged Nigerians not to be misled by short-term incentives that could eventually replicate the monopolistic scenario seen in the cement industry.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has issued a three-day notice of suspension of fuel lifting and sales, scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in protest against alleged monopolistic practices in the downstream petroleum sector.

PETROAN had previously cautioned against Dangote’s forward integration strategy, arguing that it could trigger massive job losses and entrench market dominance.

The association also expressed worry over the company’s acquisition of 4,000 CNG-powered tankers, warning that the move might threaten the survival of current truck drivers and transport operators.

In a statement signed by the association’s National PRO, Dr. Joseph Obele, and released in Abuja, PETROAN’s President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, emphasised that the planned action would be peaceful and within the law.

He noted that the strike is aimed at safeguarding fair competition, defending workers’ welfare, and stabilising fuel prices across the country.

Dr. Gillis-Harry called on President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), the NNPC Group CEO, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, the DG of DSS, and the Inspector-General of Police to urgently step in to prevent severe hardship for citizens.

He added that since PETROAN pump attendants are registered under NUPENG, they would not be at work during the strike, warning station owners against penalising their staff.

The association expressed strong concerns over the business approach of Dangote Refinery, warning that unchecked dominance could force private depot operators, modular refiners, marketers, and truck owners out of business, thereby fueling unemployment and economic instability.

PETROAN urged Nigerians not to be misled by short-term incentives that could eventually replicate the monopolistic scenario seen in the cement industry. Following an emergency meeting, the association resolved to continue consultations until Monday.

If no progress is made, all member outlets nationwide will commence the strike on Tuesday morning, with a 120-man compliance team deployed to ensure order and safeguard facilities.

PETROAN reiterated its role as a key stakeholder in the oil and gas sector and pledged to work with other players to encourage fair competition, protect jobs, and create an enabling environment for sustainable industry growth and economic benefits.