“Dangote should tell retailers the exact price it sells petrol” – PETROAN

• The lack of transparency in the petroleum sector has raised concerns among stakeholders, and despite initial hopes of reduced fuel costs, the expected relief has not been achieved.

• Since the refinery’s establishment, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been acting as a middleman, purchasing petrol from Dangote and selling it to other retailers.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has voiced its dissatisfaction regarding Dangote Refinery’s omission of the specific price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

This lack of clarity has sparked apprehension among stakeholders in the petroleum industry. Initially, there were optimistic expectations that the sales of petrol from Dangote Refinery would alleviate the escalating fuel prices in Nigeria; however, this anticipated relief has not materialized.

Since the commencement of the refinery’s operations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has continued to serve as an intermediary, acquiring petrol from Dangote and distributing it to other retailers.

During a recent segment on Channels Television’s morning show, The Morning Brief, PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harris underscored the necessity for enhanced communication between Dangote Refinery and the retail sector.

Gillis-Harris said, “As I speak to you this morning I don’t know what the Dangote price is all about. At this point in Dangote’s campaign into Nigeria, retail outlet owners like us should be able to know this is how much Dangote is willing to sell to us and we have kept that shrouded in secrecy up until now.

“NNPC came out and gave us a price template, that also did not tell us what is the exact price input from Dangote. So, we would encourage Dangote to open up space of communication, talk with all the stakeholders, get valuable inputs from everybody because it is a business that involves Nigerians, retail outlet owners like us, marketers and different consumers.

“So, there should be some level of business transparency even if it is a private business which we are so proud of that we have such facility operating in Nigeria, but we need to start to see the works.”