Dangote petrol price cut sparks DAPPMAN backlash

Dangote Petrol Price Cut sparks DAPPMAN backlash as marketers allege anti-competitive tactics and unfair treatment of local buyers

The refinery announced that from Monday petrol would fall from ₦865 to ₦841 per litre in Lagos and the South West, and to ₦851 in Abuja, Edo and Kwara. It also unveiled a direct fuel distribution scheme.

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But in a statement on Saturday, DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, said the refinery’s repeated cuts were not acts of patriotism but carefully timed moves that caused price shocks and strained competitors.

“Claims that repeated fuel price reductions by the Dangote Refinery are patriotic gestures ignore their timing and market impact,” Adewole argued.

“These reductions were often strategically timed when other importers had active cargoes at sea or in tanks, undermining competition and imposing financial strain.”

Adewole further alleged that the refinery offered lower prices to international buyers while quoting higher rates to domestic customers contradicting public claims of prioritising Nigerians.

The association also expressed concern over Dangote’s dispute with the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, warning that escalating tensions could damage the downstream sector and ordinary Nigerians.

DAPPMAN dismissed suggestions that the stability of Nigeria’s fuel supply rested solely on Dangote. Adewole noted the refinery currently supplies only 30–35 per cent of national demand, while the remainder is met by long-standing marketers operating under strict regulation.

“For decades, our members have ensured uninterrupted fuel access, investing in depots, fleets, retail networks and logistics even during forex shortages, subsidy shifts, and insecurity. These contributions deserve recognition, not erasure,” the statement said.

Rejecting claims that marketers import substandard products, DAPPMAN stressed that all imports undergo regulator-accredited laboratory testing in line with national and global standards.

Also read: Dangote Refinery launches free fuel distribution on Monday

The standoff underscores the growing friction between Nigeria’s largest private refinery and established fuel marketers, raising questions about competition, regulation, and the future of the country’s downstream oil sector.

Quadri Olaitan

Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.