The Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently issued a warning to Nigerians about the activities of a newly opened depot allegedly hired by an international trading company, accusing it of blending and introducing substandard petroleum products into the market. This facility, located near Dangote’s operations, is reportedly designed to blend these low-quality products, posing potential risks to consumers and the Nigerian refining industry.

Dangote Group’s Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, highlighted this concern in a Sunday press release. He asserted that the current trend of imported fuel prices being lower than Dangote’s locally refined products indicates the importation of substandard petroleum, allegedly facilitated by international traders in collaboration with local marketers. This issue arose after the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and other associations claimed they could import fuel at a cheaper rate than what Dangote Refinery offers, thereby sparking debate on pricing.

In response to IPMAN’s claims, Dangote defended its pricing, noting it benchmarks prices against international standards. The refinery is reportedly selling petrol at N960 per liter for ship-based sales and N990 per liter for truck-based sales, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) set its prices slightly higher at N971 and N990 per liter, respectively. Dangote emphasized that this pricing structure aligns with industry standards and aims to provide high-quality, domestically refined products.

Additionally, Dangote raised concerns over the role of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), accusing it of lacking proper laboratory facilities to test for product quality. This regulatory gap, according to Dangote, enables substandard fuel to infiltrate the Nigerian market.

Chiejina also called for public awareness, asserting that many countries protect their local industries to support job creation and economic growth. He urged Nigerians to disregard disinformation campaigns by those allegedly benefiting from importing low-quality fuel, which he argued results in “exporting jobs and importing poverty.”