By Seyi Balogun

Major marketers have kicked against Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s non sale of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to importers of the product.

According to the refinery, importers of petroleum products into Nigeria will no longer enjoy sales from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).

Reports confirm the refinery’s position saying it would no longer sell petrol to those blending Dangote fuel with imported grades.

“We are not selling petrol to those who are importing, since they are trying to blend our high-quality products with their ultra-low-quality imported products,” the source said, pleading for anonymity because he was not permitted to speak with the press.

Another source, according to the Punch said the refinery now prefers to sell its petrol to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, and others not known for importing. “We are selling to independent marketers and others who are not importing,” he stated.

It was learnt that the development informed why some marketers went to court to get an order that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority should continue to grant them import licences.

The marketers feared that they might be left stranded if they could not import fuel at a time when the Dangote refinery had halted petrol sales to them. Dangote had earlier threatened to stop transacting business with fuel importers, whom it accused of blending its Euro-5 petrol grade with imported grades.

It is concerned that such practices could make it difficult to distinguish between products supplied directly by the refinery and products subsequently blended or handled by third parties.

“It is difficult to understand why we would invest heavily in producing high-quality petroleum products for Nigerians, only for those products to be mixed with imported products of uncertain quality and the resulting product to be associated with the refinery,” the refinery said last month.

Reacting, importers and petroleum marketers kicked against the restriction of petrol sales to marketers who import petrol, describing the move as an attempt to block imports. The marketers also challenged the refinery to provide evidence that imported petrol entering the Nigerian market is below the required quality standard.

The marketers, who preferred not to be mentioned, accused Dangote of trying to prevent the importation of petrol. “We know what Dangote is trying to do. He is just trying to block imports,” one of the marketers said. The marketer argued that a company that sells petrol could not dictate whether a consumer should combine its product with fuel purchased from another supplier.

Using the example of motorists buying petrol from different filling stations, the marketer said Dangote could not prevent consumers from combining products sourced from different suppliers.

“For example, when you buy petrol from a TotalEnergies station, and you go down the road, and your petrol is almost finished, you then buy from MRS. Can TotalEnergies say you should not mix its petrol with MRS petrol? No, it can’t. I don’t understand the game that the Dangote refinery is playing,” he stated.

Another marketer also argued that the Federal Government had a responsibility to ensure an adequate petrol supply and protect consumers, insisting that imports remain necessary when domestic production drops.

Speaking, the National Vice Chairman of the IPMAN, Hamed Fashola, stated that the Dangote refinery is selective about who it sells petrol to because not all major marketers import.

“I don’t know how far that is correct; Dangote now sells to only IPMAN. I think somehow the information I have is that Dangote is selective about it, say those that are involved in importing. I think it’s not everybody that is importing,” he said.

Clarifying IPMAN’s purchasing position amid market competition, Fashola noted that independent marketers operate flexibly to secure the most competitive pricing, sourcing supply indiscriminately from both local refineries and importers.

“We buy our product anywhere we feel it is cheap. Anywhere we see the product, we go for it, both Dangote and the importers. We always go for the best price,” Fashola stated.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, expressed the belief that the Dangote refinery is open to doing business with anyone.

Ukadike noted that independent marketers are ready to buy and sell petrol from all suppliers, stressing that they were not currently involved in importing the product.

While saying he would not know if importers truly blend Dangote’s petrol with imported petrol, he concluded that Dangote is in the best position to determine whatever it can do to discourage blending.

“I believe that the Dangote refinery is open for business and that it will continue to sell to marketers. The issue of blending, I cannot say yes or no, because I’m not part of those who are importing. Independent marketers are not importing yet; we are just marketers who buy and sell.

“So, if there is any measure to discourage adulteration of petroleum products by Dangote, I think the refinery and its experts know best. They know the best way to deal with that. But our own is to continue to buy and sell to marketers. If there is a way to discourage adulteration of petroleum products, I won’t stop Dangote from doing so,” Ukadike added.

By Aliyu Musa

NNPC Retail Limited commenced its week-long 66th Independence Anniversary fuel promotion on 1 October 2026. On the day, Management and staff were at the mega station to engage with customers and promote awareness of the offer.

Customers get ₦66 off every litre of PMS purchased via the NNPC Fuel App, from 1 to 7 October 2026.

NNPC Retail’s Director, Operations, Baba Kukawa, said the promotion forms part of the company’s activities to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary, combining the national celebration with a customer-focused promotion aimed at enhancing customer engagement and encouraging the use of its digital services.

By Philip Nyam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has welcomed the $800 million Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ima Gas Project, describing it as a landmark development that affirms the growing viability of Nigeria’s upstream gas sector.

The project, located offshore in OMLs 112 and 117 and developed by AMNI International in partnership with TotalEnergies, will produce about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at peak.

According to Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPCL, the output will supply critical feed gas to Nigeria LNG Limited in support of its Train 7 expansion, which will increase capacity at the Bonny Island plant from 22 million tons per annum to 30 Mtpa.

The FID was enabled by the Presidential Directives of 2024, which provided fiscal incentives for non-associated gas, streamlined contracting and lowered development costs.

Ima is the fourth major gas project to reach FID under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after Iseni, Ubeta and HI.

Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari described it as “a decisive vote of confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector and in the bold reforms” that have created competitive terms and a predictable investment environment.

NNPC Ltd. also commends the collaboration between AMNI, TotalEnergies and the Nigerian financial sector, saying the model of indigenous operator, international partner and domestic capital is a template for future developments.

NNPC Ltd. reaffirms its commitment to work with government, regulators and industry partners to sustain investment momentum and deploy Nigeria’s gas resources for industrialisation, job creation and long-term prosperity.