Kehinde Fajobi
Abubakar Maigandi, National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has questioned Aliko Dangote’s claim that the Dangote Refinery currently holds 500 million litres of petrol ready for distribution.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, Maigandi pointed out that independent marketers assigned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to lift products had been unable to load petrol at the refinery in Lagos for four days.
Maigandi also disclosed that despite oil marketers collectively paying ₦40 billion to NNPCL, they have been unable to secure products from the refinery.
“If he (Dangote) can be able to sell the product to us directly, we can buy the product because we have to pay before we pick. Presently, we have ₦40 billion under the NNPCL custody but we cannot source the product,” he said.
On Tuesday, Aliko Dangote had urged NNPCL and other fuel importers to halt imports, stating that his refinery could meet Nigeria’s fuel needs with a current stockpile of 500 million litres and a potential daily output exceeding 30 million litres if adequately supplied with crude oil.
He assured, “With enough supply of crude, we can actually produce much more than 30 million litres every day. At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed. We have 500 million litres in our tanks. Even with no imports or production, this can last the country for more than 12 days.”
Dangote added that the refinery was ready for distribution, stating, “We have what it takes for them to come and collect. If they come and pick, you will not see any queues at the filling stations.”
Responding to Dangote’s comments, Maigandi expressed surprise over the claim, saying, “I was surprised when Dangote said he has over 500 million litres of PMS. We are ready to buy the product from Dangote if he is ready to sell it to us directly.”
He also complained of the inability of some marketers to load fuel from Dangote Refinery, “Just of recent, there are some of my marketers that NNPCL sent to load in Dangote refinery and those marketers stayed with their trucks for four days, and they cannot load.”
He also recommended that instead of distributing through NNPCL, Dangote should consider direct registration of independent marketers to streamline the process and avoid delays.