The Dangote Group has accused highly effective oil import cartels of manipulating labour unions and business associations to frustrate the operations of its refinery, warning that their actions threaten Nigeria’s quest for financial independence.
In a press release signed by the Dangote Group administration on Monday, the corporate criticised the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Fuel Staff (NUPENG) and the Depot and Petroleum Merchandise Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) for opposing the Dangote Refinery’s current discount in petrol costs.
“It’s regrettable that NUPENG has allowed itself to be weaponised by highly effective oil import cartels which have constantly benefitted from Nigeria’s over-reliance on imported petroleum merchandise, to the detriment of nationwide progress and financial independence,” the corporate mentioned.
The assertion got here after NUPENG dismissed the refinery’s worth reduce as a “Greek present,” whereas DAPPMAN described the transfer as “unpatriotic.” Dangote argued that such responses revealed the vested pursuits at play.
“The place is their very own present?”, the corporate requested. “If, as they declare, it’s cheaper to import than to refine domestically, why have these identical gamers not voluntarily lowered costs forward of the Dangote Refinery’s interventions? Nigerians can attest that worth reductions solely happen in response to the refinery’s actions.”
Backstory
On Saturday, DAPPMAN accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of adopting pricing practices that distort competitors, pressure home companies, and contradict its public claims of prioritizing Nigerian customers.
That is contained in a press release signed by the Affiliation’s Govt Secretary, Olufemi A. Adewole.
The assertion mentioned, “These reductions have been typically strategically timed when different importers had energetic cargoes at sea or in tank, creating worth shocks that undermined competitors and imposed monetary pressure on fellow market contributors, together with the refinery’s personal home clients. “Much more regarding is the refinery’s sample of providing decrease costs to worldwide patrons whereas quoting larger charges to native off takers. This contradicts public-facing claims of prioritizing Nigerians and locations pointless burden on home companies already working beneath tight margins.”
The affiliation additionally acknowledged that the declare that the refinery gives free supply of petroleum merchandise is “additionally deceptive.”
In response to Adewole, “In actuality, entrepreneurs are required to carry no less than 25 p.c of their allocations straight from the refinery gantry and should accomplish that utilizing solely Dangote-owned vehicles, paying industrial charges primarily based on their vacation spot.
This association imposes extra logistical and monetary burdens on entrepreneurs, limits operational flexibility, and undermines the narrative of price aid being supplied to the native market,” he mentioned.
What you need to know
Dangote Petroleum Refinery introduced it should begin direct provide of petrol (PMS) to 11 states beginning Monday, September 15, 2025.
In response to the corporate, the retail pump costs for the preliminary states are N841 per litre for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti, and N851 per litre for Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara.
The gantry worth is pegged at N820 per litre.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery begins direct provide of PMS with free supply efficient Monday September 15, 2025
“New Gantry Value is about at N820,” the assertion learn partly.
To help petrol station operators, the refinery will present free supply of PMS to registered stations within the 12 states, with plans to progressively develop distribution nationwide.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest with a 650,000 barrels-per-day capability, opened in 2024 to scale back Nigeria’s reliance on imported petrol and strengthen power safety.
In July 2025, it acquired 4,000 CNG vehicles beneath a N720 billion funding programme, geared toward distributing 65 million litres of refined petroleum merchandise every day, creating over 15,000 jobs, and saving Nigerians greater than N1.7 trillion yearly in power prices.
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