… Accuses Refinery of distributing products with high sulphur levels
By Adewale Sanyolu
The battle for the survival of the soul of the downstream market got to its peak at the weekend as Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of deceiving Nigerians and disrupting the downstream market structure.
This was contained in a statement by the Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, titled “Clarifying the Role of Market Players in Nigeria’s Downstream Petroleum Sector” released on Saturday.
The association pointed out that, claims that repeated fuel price reductions by the Dangote Refinery are patriotic gestures ignore their timing and market impact.
According to the association, these reductions were often strategically timed when other importers had active cargoes at sea or in tank, creating price shocks that undermined competition and imposed financial strain on fellow market participants, including the refinery’s own domestic customers.
“Even more concerning is the refinery’s pattern of offering lower prices to international buyers while quoting higher rates to local off takers. This contradicts public-facing claims of prioritizing Nigerians and places unnecessary burden on domestic businesses already operating under tight margins,’’.
The association said it rejects any insinuation that DAPPMAN members deal in “substandard” petroleum products, saying all imports are subject to independent, regulator-accredited laboratory testing in accordance with NMDPRA protocols and global quality standards.
Ironically, it said the same refinery alleging superiority had on multiple occasions sought waivers to distribute products with sulphur levels above approved thresholds, a fact that calls into question its consistency and credibility on product quality.
“Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market is highly regulated, transparent, and aligned with international best practices. Attempts to cast doubt on the integrity of other compliant players are unfair and inaccurate,”.
DAPPMAN maintained that, the assertion that Nigeria’s downstream stability rests solely on one refinery is misleading and dismissive of the broader ecosystem.
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