Dangote refinery to IPMAN: NNPC hasn’t authorised sale of petrol to marketers

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery says it has not received any payment from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for refined petroleum products.

In a statement on Thursday, Anthony Chiejina, the company’s group chief branding and communications officer, told IPMAN that the refinery cannot be held accountable for payments made to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), adding that no approval has been received from the national oil firm on the sale of petrol to marketers.

On October 29, Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), said the refinery currently holds over 500 million litres of petrol, but oil marketers are not buying the product.

In a counter-response, the IPMAN said its members had been unable to load petrol from the Dangote refinery for days.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on October 30, Abubakar Garima, IPMAN’s president, said the association has paid N40 billion to the NNPC, but still cannot source the product.

In the refinery’s latest statement, the organisation said it currently has no direct dealings with IPMAN.

“Although discussions are ongoing with IPMAN, it is misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN members) are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from our Petroleum Refinery, as we currently have no direct business dealings with them,” the refinery said.

“Consequently, we cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities.

“The payment in mention has been made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and not us.

“In the same vein, NNPCL has neither approved nor authorised us to release our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to IPMAN.”

Dangote refinery reiterated its ability to meet the nation’s demand for all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel.

The Chiejina said the refinery is capable of loading 2,900 trucks per day and has also been evacuating petroleum products by sea.

He advised IPMAN to register with the refinery directly and make direct payments, noting that there is “more than enough petroleum products to satisfy the needs of their members”.

“It is instructive for all stakeholders to refrain from making unfounded statements in the media, as that could undermine the economic re-engineering efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Chiejina said.

The company also encouraged all stakeholders to collaborate and heed Tinubu’s advice, promoting a unified approach rather than engaging in media conflicts and unnecessary propaganda.

On October 10, IPMAN had asked the NNPC to sell PMS to its marketers at the Dangote refinery rate or refund the oil marketers’ money.

During the television programme, the president of IPMAN said the marketers’ monies have been with the national oil company for three months.