Dangote Group addresses claims by IPMAN and PETROAN on PMS pricing and quality, urging public caution against misleading information
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Dangote Group has addressed recent allegations from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) regarding the pricing and quality of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) produced by the Dangote Refinery.
In a statement from Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, the company clarified its pricing structure and raised concerns about substandard imports affecting Nigeria’s refining industry.
IPMAN and PETROAN claimed they could import PMS at prices lower than Dangote Refinery’s, stirring debate within Nigeria’s fuel sector.
Chiejina countered this, stating that Dangote’s PMS prices align with international benchmarks, emphasising that any claim to import at lower prices would likely involve lower-grade products.
He warned that such imports, intended to undercut Dangote’s offerings, could harm vehicle engines and public health, particularly as regulatory body NMDPRA lacks adequate facilities to assess fuel quality accurately.
Post-deregulation, Dangote Refinery set PMS prices for domestic sales at N960 per litre for ships and N990 for trucks, responding to NNPC’s initial pricing of N971 and N990, respectively.
Despite uncertainty regarding exchange rates for crude purchases, Dangote reportedly committed to these rates to support Nigeria’s fuel needs.
Chiejina also highlighted the activities of an international trader who had recently leased a nearby depot for blending low-grade fuel, potentially to flood the market with substandard alternatives to Dangote’s higher-quality product.
This practice, he argued, threatens Nigeria’s nascent refining industry by undercutting local production and discouraging job creation within the country.
The company urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation, stressing that domestic refining is essential to job creation and economic growth, with parallels drawn to protective measures seen in the United States and Europe to safeguard local industries.
Chiejina concluded by reiterating Dangote Group’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality PMS for the Nigerian market, underscoring its intent to prioritise public health and Nigeria’s economic welfare over competing interests.
Source: Read more at saharareporters.com
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
