The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has issued a caution to Nigerians about operations near its facility that it alleges are aimed at introducing substandard petroleum products into the Nigerian market. The refinery asserts that a depot, hired by an unnamed international trading company and located adjacent to Dangote’s refinery, is engaged in blending inferior fuel that is then “dumped” onto the market, compromising public safety and the integrity of the nation’s refining industry.
In a statement on Sunday, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer for Dangote Group, expressed concern over the actions of certain fuel importers who claim to offer petrol at prices lower than Dangote’s domestically refined product. The statement responded to remarks from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and other associations who recently argued that imported fuel is more affordable than the prices set by Dangote’s refinery. Chiejina suggested that such claims indicate a collusion with foreign traders aiming to supply low-quality, cheaper alternatives.
The refinery’s statement read, “We had lately refrained from media battles but are constrained to address the misinformation being spread by IPMAN and other groups. These organisations argue they can import fuel at a cheaper rate than the price set by Dangote refinery, yet we price competitively, benchmarking against international standards. Any claims to the contrary imply the use of substandard products, irresponsibly introduced into the market.”
Chiejina further alleged that an international trading company has leased a nearby depot specifically to blend inferior fuel, describing this move as “a direct threat” to the growth of Nigeria’s refining sector. He added that the regulatory body, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), lacks functional laboratory facilities necessary for detecting substandard products, posing additional challenges to quality control.
In addition to these concerns, the refinery outlined its pricing approach, noting that the facility is selling petrol at a reduced rate in the interest of market stability and to support Nigeria’s transition following the recent deregulation of the sector. Currently, Dangote’s Lekki refinery sets its price at ₦960 per litre for ship sales, slightly below the NNPC’s ₦971 per litre for the same mode of distribution, while truck-based sales remain at ₦990.
“In good faith, and in the interest of the country, we began sales at these prices without clarity on the exchange rate that will be used to pay for the crude we purchase,” the statement said.
Chiejina defended the importance of government protection for domestic industries, pointing out that other countries impose tariffs and protections to support local production and economic growth. “The US and Europe have long protected industries such as electric vehicles and microchips through tariffs,” he noted, drawing a parallel with the refinery’s position.
In closing, the refinery’s statement called on Nigerians to disregard what it termed “deliberate disinformation” by groups whose interests lie in importing fuel and exporting jobs. “While we are committed to supplying high-quality, affordable, domestically refined petroleum products, we must not fall prey to narratives that ultimately harm the Nigerian economy,” Chiejina concluded.
