DAPPMAN to Dangote: Ensure Fair Fuel Pricing and Open Access

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has urged the Dangote Refinery to make petroleum products more accessible and affordable to marketers in order to ensure consistent supply and eliminate fuel queues nationwide.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, DAPPMAN spokesperson Ikem Ohia called for stronger collaboration with the refinery. He dismissed suggestions of conflict, emphasizing that marketers simply want a transparent system that guarantees regular product availability.

“Our main concern is steady access to reasonably priced fuel, so Nigerians don’t face shortages or long queues,” Ohia said. He acknowledged Dangote as the dominant supplier but raised concerns over limited access and unclear pricing structures.

Highlighting DAPPMAN’s vast distribution network—including depots in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar—Ohia urged Dangote to utilize these facilities to meet national demand. “We’re asking him to use the infrastructure already in place for effective distribution,” he added.

Responding to claims that marketers seek subsidies, Ohia clarified: “We’re not asking for subsidies. We’re businesspeople negotiating like any other supplier-customer relationship. We want to bridge the supply gap.”

Ohia also noted that globally, refineries typically prioritize bulk sales through off-takers to maintain continuous production, rather than relying solely on retail gantry sales. He criticized the refinery’s preference for a few select partners, arguing that a more open, inclusive system would benefit the country.

Many DAPPMAN members operate extensive retail networks, including some with hundreds of filling stations, but they face limited supply due to restricted access to the refinery’s products. “Current supply volumes are not meeting demand. Bulk deliveries to depots are critical,” he said.

The discussion comes amid concerns that Dangote’s investment in 4,000 CNG-powered trucks could give it excessive control over fuel distribution. In contrast, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has urged marketers to adapt, suggesting they consider acquiring the Port Harcourt Refinery rather than resist Dangote’s business model.

Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery has pushed back against DAPPMAN’s claims, rejecting the ₦1.5 trillion subsidy figure as “false and unfounded.” The refinery stated that its pricing is based on production costs and regulated margins, and that marketers are responsible for their own logistics, as fuel subsidies were abolished in May 2023.