Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reaffirmed its position in the ongoing face-off with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), insisting it will not succumb to what it terms a demand for a subsidy amounting to N1.505 trillion annually.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its management and dated September 17, 2025, the refinery said it stood by the publication it placed across several national newspapers and reputable online platforms on Monday, September 15. These included The Guardian, ThisDay, The Punch, Daily Trust, Nigerian Tribune, Daily Sun, Vanguard, The Nation, BusinessDay, Leadership, Daily Independent, and Blueprint.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery stated that any party dissatisfied with its position was at liberty to approach the courts rather than issue threats or ultimatums.
“We wish to emphasise that any party who feels aggrieved by the contents of the publication is entitled to seek redress through the appropriate legal channels, without recourse to any so-called seven-day notice. We are fully prepared to defend our position,” the statement read.
The Crux of the Dispute
The company explained that the heart of DAPPMAN’s sustained opposition was its insistence on an annual subsidy to cover additional logistics costs if products are delivered through coastal transport.
While Dangote offers products at its gantry price directly to marketers, DAPPMAN is demanding discounts to offset the cost of moving products via vessels from the refinery to Apapa depots.
Specifically, the marketers are requesting that Dangote Petroleum Refinery absorb N70 per litre in coastal freight, NIMASA, NPA, and other associated costs, along with N5 per litre in pumping charges into vessels.
Based on Nigeria’s daily projected consumption of 40 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 15 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), the refinery calculated the extra cost at N1.505 trillion annually.
“We have no intention of increasing our gantry price to accommodate such demands, nor are we willing to pay a subsidy of over N1.5 trillion, a practice that historically defrauded the Federal Government for many years. DAPPMAN and other marketers are welcome to lift products directly from our gantry and benefit from our logistics-free initiative,” Dangote stated.
Domestic Supply and Export
The refinery also underscored its capacity to meet Nigeria’s energy needs, pointing out that it maintains a monthly closing stock of 500 million litres of refined products in its tanks.
Between June and September 2025 alone, Dangote said it exported 3,229,881 metric tonnes of PMS, AGO, and aviation fuel. During the same period, marketers imported 3,687,828 metric tonnes of refined products into the country—an action the refinery described as “dumping” that harms both the economy and Nigerian citizens.
Commitment to National Reforms
Dangote Petroleum Refinery reiterated its support for the reform programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stressing that it had already contributed significantly to stabilising the naira, cushioning the effects of subsidy removal, positioning Nigeria as a refining hub, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and creating employment opportunities.
The refinery also emphasised its cooperative relationship with relevant government agencies while maintaining its readiness to hold institutions accountable where necessary.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery remains firmly committed to the progress and well-being of Nigeria, and is open to partnerships with patriotic and responsible stakeholders in pursuit of national development,” the company stated.
The company concluded by affirming that its stand against subsidy-style demands from marketers would not shift, describing such practices as part of the inefficiencies that undermined Nigeria’s energy sector for decades.
