The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has rejected the continued importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), insisting that local production—particularly from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery—is sufficient to meet national demand.
The association also dismissed reports linking the surge in petrol imports recorded in November 2025 to an alleged breakdown in supply arrangements between Dangote Refinery and petroleum marketers, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
According to IPMAN, the reports do not reflect the realities faced by its members, noting that the commencement of supply from the Dangote Refinery has significantly improved PMS availability nationwide.
Speaking on the issue, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said independent marketers have consistently lifted products from the refinery without complaints.
“Our members fully support Dangote Refinery. Since supply began, marketers have lifted products consistently. We oppose continued importation because Dangote Refinery has the capacity to meet Nigeria’s entire PMS demand,” Shettima said.
He added that members are satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s plan for direct delivery to filling stations, describing it as critical to stabilising distribution and protecting consumers. According to him, increased access to locally refined products has eased supply pressures and strengthened confidence among independent marketers.
Similarly, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed media reports suggesting a collapse of supply agreements with marketers, describing them as baseless.
In a statement, the refinery clarified that no supply arrangement had broken down, explaining that its engagement with the downstream market was deliberately structured to meet rising demand while promoting access, competition, and efficiency.
The refinery disclosed that PMS supply under the marketers’ arrangement began in October 2025 with an agreed offtake volume of 600 million litres, which rose to 900 million litres in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion litres in December.
“In line with market growth and absorption capacity, volumes were scaled up accordingly. Subsequently, and in line with downstream market liberalisation, we opened PMS supply to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers, and filling station operators,” the statement, signed by Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said.
Dangote Refinery noted that since December 16, 2025, it has consistently loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, depending on market demand. It said these figures are verifiable through depot and loading records under routine regulatory oversight.
To improve access and distribution efficiency, the refinery said it reduced minimum purchase volumes from two million litres to 250,000 litres and introduced a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees. The measures, it explained, are aimed at improving liquidity, supporting small and medium-sized operators, and reducing dependence on imported fuel.
The refinery also dismissed claims that marketers withdrew from its supply arrangement due to pricing concerns, stressing that its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-responsive, and aligned with import parity benchmarks, while meeting all regulatory and quality standards.
Addressing the spike in petrol imports recorded in November, Dangote Refinery explained that the increase coincided with import licences approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which authorised volumes beyond prevailing domestic demand. It stressed that the development was unrelated to its production capacity or supply commitments.
The refinery reaffirmed its commitment to reliable supply, transparency, and the orderly development of a competitive downstream petroleum market, pledging continued collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to support domestic refining, conserve foreign exchange, moderate fuel prices, and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
