The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed strong opposition to the continued importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country. The association also dismissed reports linking the rise in petrol imports in November 2025 to an alleged breakdown in supply arrangements between Dangote Refinery and petroleum marketers, describing such claims as misleading.
IPMAN said the reports do not reflect the actual experience of its members, noting that the start of supply from Dangote Refinery has significantly improved product availability across the country. Speaking on the issue, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said members fully support Dangote Refinery, adding that marketers have been lifting products consistently without complaints since supply began. He stated that IPMAN opposes continued importation because the refinery has the capacity to meet Nigeria’s entire PMS demand.
Shettima also noted that members are satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s commitment to direct delivery to filling stations, describing the move as crucial for stabilising distribution and benefiting consumers. He said improved access to locally refined products has eased supply pressures and boosted confidence among independent marketers, reaffirming IPMAN’s support for domestic refining as a sustainable solution for the downstream petroleum sector.
Similarly, Dangote Petroleum Refinery dismissed the media reports as inaccurate. The company clarified that no supply agreement with marketers had collapsed and explained that its engagement with the downstream market was structured to meet rising demand while improving access, competition, and efficiency. The refinery revealed that supply under the marketers’ arrangement began in October 2025 with an agreed offtake volume of 600 million litres of PMS. This was increased to 900 million litres in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion litres in December.
It explained that volumes were scaled up in line with market growth and absorption capacity. Following the liberalisation of the downstream market, PMS supply was also opened to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers, and filling station operators. Since December 16, 2025, Dangote Refinery has been loading between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, depending on market demand. The company said these figures are verifiable through depot and loading records maintained under regulatory oversight.
To improve distribution efficiency and broaden participation, the refinery introduced measures such as reducing minimum purchase volumes from two million litres to 250,000 litres and offering a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees. These steps were designed to enhance liquidity, support small and medium-sized operators, and reduce reliance on imported fuel.
The refinery added that the expanded access framework has increased the use of locally refined PMS and contributed to more competitive retail pricing, with domestic products selling at significantly lower prices than imported alternatives. It also dismissed claims that marketers withdrew due to pricing concerns, stating that its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-responsive, and aligned with import parity indicators while meeting regulatory and quality standards.
Addressing the surge in petrol imports in November, Dangote Refinery explained that the increase followed import licensing decisions approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which sanctioned volumes beyond prevailing domestic demand. The company stressed that this was unrelated to its operational capacity or supply commitments.
Dangote Refinery reaffirmed its commitment to reliable supply, transparency, and the development of a competitive downstream petroleum market, pledging continued collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to support domestic refining, conserve foreign exchange, stabilise prices, and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
