The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised concerns over Dangote Refinery’s plan to distribute fuel directly across Nigeria, calling it a potential “Greek gift,” warning it could lead to market monopoly, job losses, and eventual price hikes
PETROAN President Billy-Gillis Harry urged government intervention to prevent domination of the downstream sector and to protect smaller businesses.
The association’s national president, Billy-Gillis Harry, warned that the move could mirror Dangote Group’s past dominance in sectors like cement, flour, and sugar, where initial benefits eventually gave way to price hikes and limited competition.
“I think Nigerians need to be careful about accepting a ‘Greek gift’. We need to be much more insightful, as we have experienced it in different spheres of the economy, whether it is flour, sugar, or cement.”
Gillis-Harry pointed out that although cement was once sold directly at various locations, prices never truly dropped.
He fears the same pattern may emerge in the fuel market, where small players might be pushed out, only for prices to later soar.
He added: “So there is no anticipation that when everybody is drummed out of the business by these kinds of gifts, we wouldn’t get back to the same position where we would start looking to buy petroleum products for N2,500 per litre. It has happened in other areas. We are courageous enough to stand by our point.”
In an earlier interview with Legit, Billy-Gillis Harry expressed concern over Dangote Refinery’s proposed forward integration approach, where the company would not only produce but also distribute fuel.
He cautioned that this strategy could lead to monopolistic control within the downstream oil sector.
According to him, such dominance could seriously harm smaller businesses and result in widespread job losses across the petroleum value chain.
He urged the government to step in with proper regulations to prevent any single player from taking over the market and to ensure fair competition for all stakeholders.
Meanwhile Dangote Refinery has explained that its new fuel distribution plan is aimed at enabling smooth and efficient delivery of petroleum products nationwide
It also emphasised that vital industries such as manufacturing and telecommunications stand to gain significantly, as lower fuel prices could help reduce production expenses, ease inflation, and support economic growth.
The refinery noted that businesses in these and other sectors can now buy fuel directly from its facility.
The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery came on stream in January 2024, first rolling out diesel and aviation fuel A1.
PMS rollout followed nine months later, in September 2024. As of February this year, the refinery disclosed that it had reached 85 per cent of its installed capacity, expressing confidence in the speedy attainment of full capacity.
A funeral ceremony in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, reportedly turned tragic on Friday after a pastor collapsed and died while delivering a sermon on the certainty of death.
The cleric was identified as Deacon Steve Eyo, the Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Aleto.
He was preaching before more than 300 mourners when he suddenly collapsed as he was concluding his message.
Eyo’s sermon was titled “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond.” According to eyewitness accounts cited by multiple local news outlets, he began preaching at about 1:10 p.m., speaking about the inevitability of death and urging those present to live their lives with the awareness that nobody knows when death will come.
In illustrating his message, the pastor reportedly compared life to going to the market, explaining that some people leave early while others remain until later, just as some people die young while others live longer.
About 15 minutes into the sermon, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Eyo reportedly collapsed while rounding off his message.
His sudden fall initially confused some mourners, with eyewitnesses saying some thought the pastor was demonstrating the suddenness of death as part of his sermon. The situation quickly became clear, however, as church ministers, choir members and others rushed to his aid.
People at the scene reportedly prayed for him while individuals with medical knowledge attempted to administer first aid. He was subsequently taken to a nearby medical facility in the same ambulance that had been hired to convey the remains of the deceased person whose burial was taking place.
He was reportedly confirmed dead at the hospital, after which his remains were taken to a mortuary.
The circumstances surrounding Eyo’s death have not been publicly established in the reports reviewed, and no specific medical cause of death was disclosed.
However, the timing of the incident has left mourners and members of the Aleto community deeply shocked because of the subject of his final sermon.
According to eyewitness accounts, Eyo had urged the congregation to “number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime” shortly before he collapsed.
The incident transformed what had begun as a solemn farewell for one deceased person into another moment of mourning, as attendees were confronted with the sudden death of the minister delivering the funeral sermon.
Nigerian dancer cum entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has spoken about his ordeal following his release on bail in the United Kingdom.
Naija News recalls that Snaresbrook Crown Court had earlier fixed September 15 for plea and trial preparation in Poco Lee’s sexual offence case.
The case stems from Poco Lee’s visit to the UK in August for the Davido and Friends concert, which was held at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14.
However, during a video call with social commentator, VeryDarkMan, Poco Lee said his main concern while he was away was the welfare of his associates and the impact of his absence on their business activities.
The dancer maintained that he is innocent of the sexual allegation and his mind is pure.
He said, “I was just being myself. God sees my heart. My only worries were about my people. Jago could not do anything business, and I didn’t want to stress anyone.
“If I was inside there and I did what I was accused of, I would have felt I was paying for my sins, but since I knew I didn’t do what I was accused of, my mind is pure.
“Nobody would have wanted to associate themselves with something like that, but Burna Boy stood by me, Jago and some of my other guys.”
VeryDarkMan, who shared the video call on social media, also praised Nigerian singers, Burna Boy and Rahman Jago for their support.
In the caption accompanying the video, VDM wrote: “I just got off a video call with @rahman_jago_ and @poco_lee. I guess the next narrative will be this is AI. THERE IS A REASON WHY I BRAG WITH INTEGRITY, I AM NOBODY’S mate, WHEN I talk take it to the bank.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the state’s ₦1.8 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Daily Voice reports that the bill was unanimously passed by 26 lawmakers during the Assembly’s resumed sitting in Port Harcourt.
Once assented to by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the budget will provide basis for the state government’s expenditure and implementation of programmes and projects.
More to come…
