The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that any oil marketer that sells petrol cheaper than the price it offers is importing substandard products.
The refinery, in a statement on Sunday, countered claims by some oil marketers that the cost of the product is higher than that of the imported petrol.
On November 1, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said petrol — also known as premium motor spirit (PMS) — from the refinery is more expensive than buying from other sources.
Yakubu Suleiman, national assistant secretary of IPMAN, speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme, said the group’s members go for more affordable options at other depots across Nigeria than the high logistical costs associated with buying petrol from the Dangote refinery.
Responding to these claims, the refinery said its ex-depot price of petrol is N990 per litre for trucks and N960 per litre for ships.
The firm said that the prices are benchmarked against international prices and the amount the NNPC sold to local marketers.
“We had lately refrained from engaging in media fights but we are constrained to respond to the recent misinformation being circulated by IPMAN, PETROAN, and other associations,” the statement reads.
“Both organisations claim that they can import PMS at lower prices than what is being sold by the Dangote Refinery. We benchmark our prices against international prices and we believe our prices are competitive relative to the price of imports.
“If anyone claims they can land PMS at a price cheaper than what we are selling, then they are importing substandard products and conniving with international traders to dump low quality products into the country, without concern for the health of Nigerians or the longevity of their vehicles.
“Unfortunately, the regulator (NMDPRA) does not even have laboratory facilities which can be used to detect substandard products when imported into the country.”
