REVEALS: Dangote sells petrol in Togo at N65 and Sells at N841 in Nigeria-importers say

The Observer
4 Min Read

 

Some fuel importers and retail associations say the Dangote Refinery is selling petrol to international traders at N65 per litre less than it charges Nigerian marketers — a claim the refinery rejects.

The Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PPROAN) told Sunday PUNCH in separate interviews that members have been able to buy Dangote product in Lomé, Togo, at prices lower than those offered to local off‑takers.

The allegations come after Dangote announced reductions in pump prices — from N865 to N841 per litre in Lagos and the South‑west, and to N851 in Abuja, Edo and Kwara — alongside plans to begin direct fuel distribution.

DAPPMAN executive secretary Olufemi Adewole said some of the group’s members had bought cargoes in Lomé at prices below the refinery’s domestic offers. He said importers had sought allocations from the refinery but were quoted higher rates or offered terms deemed unprofitable, prompting them to source product abroad.

“Dangote is selling to international traders at N65 lower than what he is selling to us,” Adewole said. “We have collated the volumes needed by DAPPMAN and sent them to Dangote twice, yet he is not giving us products. Even if he does, it comes with conditions that are not commercially viable.”

Adewole asked the refinery to give domestic marketers discounts to cover freight and other costs between the refinery’s jetty and marketers’ facilities, arguing that without such relief importers will continue to source from abroad when prices are cheaper.

PPROAN national president Billy Gillis‑Harry said DAPPMAN’s assessment was accurate. A major importer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also told Sunday PUNCH his firm declined to buy from the refinery because margins were unfavourable.

The Dangote Refinery dismissed the allegations. A company spokesman denied claims that it favours international buyers and appeared to link the reports to tensions with the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The union has accused the refinery of anti‑union practices, including restricting drivers from joining the union, and threatened industrial action.

“Our free delivery starts Monday,” the spokesman said, adding in a separate remark that buyers had long sourced product from other hubs such as Russia and Malta before turning to Lomé.

DAPPMAN has also criticised the timing of Dangote’s price cuts, saying they often coincide with importers having cargoes at sea or in tanks, creating disruptive price shocks that strain competitors. Adewole argued the refinery supplies only about 30–35 percent of national demand and that other marketers remain crucial to downstream stability.

On Dangote’s distribution model, Adewole challenged the “free delivery” claim, saying marketers are required to lift at least 25 percent of allocations from the refinery gantry using Dangote‑owned trucks and to pay commercial rates — an arrangement he said imposes extra logistical and financial burdens.

The refinery said it will begin rolling out compressed natural gas‑powered trucks as part of a logistics‑free distribution programme aimed at lowering fuel costs nationwide.

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