Lagos — Dangote Petroleum Refinery has firmly rejected calls by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) for it to absorb additional costs reportedly amounting to ₦1.5 trillion.
In a statement, the refinery’s management said it would not take on such costs, arguing that the demands were unjustified and unsustainable in the current business climate. Dangote officials insisted that the refinery already operates under strict financial and operational constraints, and transferring further burdens would undermine its ability to stabilize Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
The company further argued that the refinery was established to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products, not to shoulder disproportionate costs demanded by market intermediaries. It called for transparency and fairness in cost-sharing, stressing that consumers should not be exposed to artificial inflation of fuel prices.
Industry watchers believe the standoff reflects deeper tensions in Nigeria’s petroleum sector as the Dangote Refinery begins to assert itself as a game-changer. Observers warn that unless properly resolved, the disagreement could trigger supply disruptions or exacerbate fuel price volatility.
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