Marketers Lament Over Dangote Refinery Fuel Supply Delays
Tension is mounting within Nigeria’s petroleum downstream sector as independent marketers accuse the Dangote refinery of failing to supply fuel despite full payments made weeks earlier.
The alleged supply delays have reignited debates over fairness, transparency, and operational efficiency at Africa’s largest refinery, which was expected to ease the nation’s dependence on imported petrol.
According to several marketers who spoke under anonymity, millions of litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) have been paid for, yet the Dangote refinery fuel supply has not been fulfilled.
The traders, who reportedly financed their transactions through commercial bank loans, now face heavy interest charges as their trucks remain idle.
One marketer expressed frustration, saying, “We paid for products over two weeks ago, but our allocations were suddenly reduced.
It appears the refinery is prioritising certain marketers while sidelining others who made early payments.”
New Policy and Price Adjustments Deepen Supply Concerns
The marketers alleged that the refinery’s recent policy adjustments have disrupted the delivery schedule.
They claim that after an upward review in the ex-depot price from N820 to N877 per litre, their allocations were slashed without official communication.
“This new pricing system has created confusion,” one marketer lamented.
“While we paid based on the old rate, the refinery now wants to load at the new price. It’s causing financial strain for smaller operators.”
Industry observers note that the ongoing controversy threatens to undermine confidence in the Dangote refinery fuel supply chain, especially as the nation battles recurring petrol price fluctuations.
Dangote Refinery Defends Operations, Denies Supply Halt
In response to the allegations, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, dismissed claims that the refinery had suspended loading operations.
During a media tour of the facility, Edwin insisted that the refinery was producing and storing large volumes of petrol and urged marketers to bring their trucks for loading.
“We currently have over 310 million litres of PMS in our tanks, excluding daily production,” Edwin stated.
“Bring your tankers, and we will load them. We are fully operational and capable of meeting demand.”
Edwin’s statement was intended to reassure the market, but it has instead sparked more skepticism among independent marketers who maintain that their trucks remain parked without allocation.
IPMAN Challenges Dangote’s Claims, Demands Transparency
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has sided with its members, insisting that the refinery must first clear existing backlogs before making new supply offers.
IPMAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, criticised the refinery’s management for attempting to shift blame, saying marketers have been waiting for over a month to receive products they paid for.
“It’s misleading to suggest that marketers are unwilling to lift fuel. The truth is, many have been waiting for weeks, with their trucks stationed at the refinery. The bottlenecks are from their end, not ours,” Ukadike said.
He further urged Dangote Refinery to strengthen its internal logistics and provide clarity on supply timelines to restore confidence in the Dangote refinery fuel supply process.
Rising Petrol Prices Worsen Consumer Burden
The ongoing dispute comes amid a fresh surge in petrol prices across the country, compounding hardship for consumers.
Pump prices have climbed from N865 to nearly N1,000 per litre in some regions, despite the relative stability of crude oil prices and the naira exchange rate.
Market data show that the refinery recently increased its gantry price to about N870 per litre, up from N820.
As a result, major distributors such as MRS and Heyden are now selling petrol between N923 and N925 per litre, while NNPC retail outlets price their fuel at N928 per litre.
This price surge has shocked consumers, many of whom expected prices to decline following the refinery’s commencement of domestic production.
Economic Implications and Industry Reactions
Analysts warn that continued disruption in the Dangote refinery fuel supply could ripple across the economy, affecting small businesses, transport costs, and overall inflation.
Energy analyst, Bamidele Johnson, told reporters that transparency in product distribution is essential if the refinery intends to build trust within the downstream market.
“The refinery has the capacity to transform Nigeria’s fuel landscape,” he said. “But the current bottlenecks in supply and communication gaps could erode the goodwill it has built.”
Johnson called for regulatory intervention by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to ensure equitable access to fuel and prevent monopolistic practices.
The ongoing tension between petroleum marketers and the Dangote refinery underscores the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s energy sector.
As the country looks to the refinery to stabilise domestic fuel supply and pricing, resolving the current impasse will be crucial in sustaining investor confidence and ensuring a consistent Dangote refinery fuel supply to the market.
Until these challenges are addressed, Nigeria’s hope for cheaper and more reliable petrol may remain uncertain.
