We want petroleum products at reasonable prices — DAPPMAN!
Reported by David Joshua | Sele Media Africa
The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has urged Dangote Petroleum Refinery to make its fuel supply more accessible to independent marketers and to sell products at affordable, consistent rates — a move the association says will end fuel queues and prevent stock-outs across Nigeria.
DAPPMAN’s spokesperson, Ikem Ohia, told Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that marketers want a transparent, open-door arrangement that allows them use of existing depot networks (in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar) to distribute products to Nigerians at stable prices. “Our key interest is to have petroleum products offered at reasonable prices consistently, in a way that there’s no stock-out and Nigerians no longer queue for fuel,” Ohia said.
The call comes amid a public row between DAPPMAN and the Dangote Refinery. Dangote has publicly pushed back, saying that some marketers are demanding what it described as a ₦1.505 trillion annual subsidy — a claim DAPPMAN has rejected — and has emphasised it will not absorb logistics costs such as coastal freight and associated charges. Dangote has said its gantry prices reflect production costs and regulated margins.
Industry observers say the disagreement highlights strains in the evolving supply chain since the Dangote Refinery began commercial operations and policy moves that opened direct purchases beyond the state oil firm. The refinery has pursued both direct sales and investments in distribution (including a large fleet of gas-powered trucks to widen reach), moves that have altered how products flow through Nigeria’s downstream market. Analysts warn that resolving access and pricing frictions is important to stabilise retail prices nationwide.
Stakeholders including the Confederation of Retail Oil and Allied Traders (CORAN) have called for a truce and negotiated arrangements to avoid supply disruptions while protecting the interests of consumers and small marketers. Meanwhile, both sides continue to trade public statements as regulators watch for any impact on supply and pump prices.
Why it matters:
Dangote’s refinery is central to Nigeria’s aim of ending petrol imports and stabilising domestic supply. If marketers are given fair access to refined products at competitive prices, it could reduce retail volatility and long queues that have reappeared in some cities. Conversely, unresolved disputes over discounts, logistics and distribution could perpetuate localized shortages and price swings.
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