The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ceased Premium Motor Spirit sales to major marketers engaged in the importation of petroleum products into the country.
An anonymous official at the facility confirmed the development to The PUNCH, explaining that the company refuses to supply fuel to entities that mix its high-quality output with inferior imported stock. The source noted, “We are not selling petrol to those who are importing, since they are trying to blend our high-quality products with their ultra-low-quality imported products.”
Another insider revealed that the refinery now prioritises sales to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and other non-importing distributors, stating, “We are selling to independent marketers and others who are not importing.”
The policy shift follows previous warnings from Dangote regarding third parties diluting its Euro-5 grade petrol. Last month, the refinery declared, “It is difficult to understand why we would invest heavily in producing high-quality petroleum products for Nigerians, only for those products to be mixed with imported products of uncertain quality and the resulting product to be associated with the refinery.” Fearing supply disruption following the halted allocations, affected marketers have sought a court order to compel the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to continue issuing import licences.
Importers and major distributors have strongly opposed the restriction, accusing the refinery of attempting to establish a market monopoly and demanding proof that imported fuel fails to meet national quality standards. Other industry figures maintained that the Federal Government must safeguard consumer supply through imports whenever local output falters.
IPMAN National Vice Chairman Hamed Fashola clarified that the refinery’s restriction applies specifically to active importers rather than all major marketers. Explaining their purchasing strategy, Fashola remarked, “We buy our product anywhere we feel it is cheap. Anywhere we see the product, we go for it, both Dangote and the importers. We always go for the best price.”
IPMAN National Publicity Secretary Chinedu Ukadike confirmed that independent marketers currently rely strictly on local trading rather than direct importation. Addressing the dispute over product quality, Ukadike observed that the refinery possesses the technical right to safeguard its standards, stating, “So, if there is any measure to discourage adulteration of petroleum products by Dangote, I think the refinery and its experts know best. They know the best way to deal with that. But our own is to continue to buy and sell to marketers.”