Mohammed Shosanya

 

 

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is seeking its members’ direct access to the Dangote refinery,to enable them load from the facility as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company does.

 

 

 

Abubakar Garima,IPMAN’s president believes the gesture could force down the skyrocketing petrol prices and increase consumption of the product in Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

He spoke on Channel TV on Wednesday, to debunk low patronage claims by the owner of the facility,Alhaji Aliko Dangote on account of huge importation of the product by the marketers.

 

 

 

He clarified that his members are not importing petrol,adding that they were unable to load petrol from the Dangote refinery for days.

 

 

 

According to him, the refinery should allow independent petrol marketers to register directly to facilitate access to the product, rather than require them to go through the NNPC.

 

 

 

He said:“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 N40 billion under the NNPC custody but we cannot source the product.

 

 

“Just of recent, there are some of my marketers that NNPC sent to load in Dangote refinery and those marketers stayed with their trucks for four days, and they cannot load.”

 

 

He also implored Dangote to review his prices if marketers are opting to import petrol instead.

 

 

“Since he (Dangote) says marketers are not buying his product, he should check his price properly. Is it higher than what they are obtaining outside or is it the same rate?”

 

 

He maintained that although some marketers might opt to sell imported petrol, Dangote should evaluate external market prices and consider the delivery timelines for marketers to stay competitive.