Oil entrepreneurs have revealed that they’re getting their petrol provides from Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical, insisting that no one is importing the product for now.
They acknowledged that the provision chain has been secure, with the oil entrepreneurs now shopping for their merchandise from Dangote Refinery.
Nevertheless, some entrepreneurs argue that petrol importation remains to be happening because the home refining capability will not be sufficient to fulfill nationwide demand.
What the entrepreneurs are saying
In an unique interview with Nairametrics, the Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the Unbiased Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, mentioned unbiased oil entrepreneurs don’t have any complaints as there isn’t a scarcity of merchandise, with costs dropping.
Ukadike emphasised that he doesn’t suppose anyone is importing petrol at this second, as they’re getting all their provides from Dangote Refinery.
He mentioned, ‘’Properly, since Dangote has lowered his worth, and we have now not complained of a scarcity of merchandise. Even when it’s within the Christmas interval, when you already know that there’s a excessive degree of visitors. There is no such thing as a scarcity of merchandise, and there’s no importation.
‘’So, one can find out that the provision chain is secure. So, that one, actually, has additionally cancelled all these accusations and counteraccusations on petrol importation. I don’t suppose anyone is importing inside this era on that regime. No person is importing now. I’m positive that no one is importing. So, all of the provides we’re getting now are from Dangote. You already know Dangote has additionally opened up the marketplace for unbiased entrepreneurs.’’
There had been earlier reviews that the gasoline provide association between the Dangote Refinery and 20 main petroleum entrepreneurs, underneath which the events agreed to offtake 600 million litres of petrol month-to-month, had collapsed over pricing disagreements, resulting in an upsurge within the importation of the product in November 2025.
The settlement, which was structured as a pilot association, was a part of efforts to stabilise provide within the home market and ease the current surge in pump costs.
Surge in petrol import
Based on a reality sheet from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), petrol importation rose to 1.563 billion litres in November 2025 from 828 million litres of petrol imported in October 2025.
Nevertheless, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, in its response, refuted claims that the surge in petrol imports in November 2025 was linked to a breakdown in provide preparations between the oil agency and petroleum entrepreneurs, describing the report as inaccurate and deceptive.
It famous in its clarification that no provide settlement with oil entrepreneurs had collapsed, including that its engagement with the downstream market was intentionally structured to fulfill rising demand and improve entry, competitors, and effectivity.
Additionally, unbiased oil entrepreneurs had distanced themselves from ideas that the surge in petrol imports in November 2025 was linked to a breakdown in provide preparations between Dangote Refinery and petroleum entrepreneurs.
They acknowledged that the report doesn’t mirror the fact skilled by oil entrepreneurs, emphasizing that the graduation of provide from Dangote Refinery has considerably improved product availability nationwide.
On unbiased entrepreneurs shopping for instantly from Dangote Refinery, the IPMAN Spokesman mentioned, ‘’We’re shopping for instantly now from Dangote. As a substitute of that three-tier distribution course of, we are actually taking instantly, and it (Dangote refinery) has lowered the amount, 250,000 litres. As a substitute of the five hundred,000. So, it additionally implies that entrepreneurs can simply mix and get some product as rapidly as doable.’’
Value discount will proceed
Ukadike mentioned the entrepreneurs are impressed with the extent of openness from Dangote Refinery and anticipate additional downward assessment of costs as operations stabilize.
‘’Even on this interval when gasoline is often excessive and scarce, day-to-day you will note a downward assessment from entrepreneurs. So, we’re impressed with the extent of openness Dangote has launched available in the market. It additionally makes the market extra aggressive. The effectiveness of manufacturing and pricing, you already know, determines worth stability and distribution. So, unbiased entrepreneurs have been glad, and we applaud that sort gesture.
‘’As soon as the native pricing is affordable, that will probably be a drastic worth drop, as a result of the transportation logistics are less expensive and are additionally extra inexpensive. That coverage of supplying on to Unbiased entrepreneurs has began and it’s paying us tremendously, ‘’ he added.
Inventory safety
In distinction, one other retail oil marketer, Edwin Ogah, admitted that entrepreneurs are nonetheless importing petrol. He, nonetheless, acknowledged that the imported petrol is principally for inventory safety, to construct buffers to keep away from shortage, and to not dump the product past the demand.
Ogah mentioned, ‘’I don’t suppose that narrative is appropriate in any respect. What occurs is that imported volumes are generally larger than speedy day by day consumption as a result of entrepreneurs construct buffers to keep away from shortage. Nigeria nonetheless depends considerably on imports, so cargoes are available in batches. This will create the impression of “extra imports,” however in actuality, it’s about inventory safety, not dumping gasoline past demand.
‘’In the mean time, I don’t suppose home refining is enough to fulfill nationwide demand. Whereas we now have rising home refining capability, it has not but reached the size, consistency, and nationwide distribution required to completely substitute imports. The availability chain is comparatively secure in comparison with earlier years, nevertheless it stays delicate to FX availability, port congestion, pipeline integrity, and trucking prices.
‘’Many entrepreneurs are nonetheless importing gasoline. Importation stays essential to bridge the provision hole left by inadequate native refining. Any marketer who has entry to FX and credit score will proceed to import to make sure regular provide, particularly throughout peak consumption intervals.’’
He mentioned that the Dangote Refinery has began producing and supplying merchandise, noting that full-scale, seamless direct provide to all entrepreneurs is evolving and nonetheless being fine-tuned.
What you must know
Nairametrics had reported a few days ago that Dangote Petroleum Refinery refuted reviews claiming it was shutting down for upkeep, insisting that it continues to function at full capability whereas supplying over 50 million litres of petrol day by day to the Nigerian market.
The refinery, in its assertion, described the reviews as false, deceptive, and intentionally promoted to create panic within the downstream petroleum market.
The 650,000 barrels-per-day facility mentioned manufacturing stays secure and uninterrupted, reaffirming its position as a stabilising drive in Nigeria’s gasoline provide amid current pump worth volatility.
In a associated improvement, in December 2025, Dangote Refinery had, in a letter to the NMDPRA, confirmed its readiness to take full duty for Nigeria’s home petrol provide, pledging to ship 1.5 billion litres of petrol month-to-month from December 2025.
