By Olakunle Oke
The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has rejected recent claims by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing the company of spreading misleading and factually incorrect information that undermines Nigeria’s deregulated downstream oil sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, DAPPMAN described Dangote’s allegations as distortions aimed at discrediting marketers and influencing regulatory perception.
The association stressed that its members, including Matrix, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, and NIPCO, are fully tax-compliant and have no pending cases with tax authorities.
On the refinery’s claim that DAPPMAN sponsored a planned strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the association dismissed the allegation as “false and baseless.” It said labour unions and petroleum trade bodies operate independently and cannot be controlled by depot owners or marketers.
DAPPMAN also pushed back against Dangote’s assertions on fuel pricing, noting that recent pump price reductions were driven by a stronger naira, falling international crude prices, and improved forex liquidity—not by Dangote’s output.
The association accused the refinery of double standards in its export strategy, pointing out that while Dangote products find open markets abroad, the company denies Nigerian marketers access to competitive loading facilities at home. It also challenged Dangote’s criticisms of imported fuel quality, claiming the refinery itself applied for waivers to distribute high-sulphur products in breach of the Petroleum Industry Act.
On supply volumes, DAPPMAN insisted that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), not Dangote, is the custodian of consumption data. It estimated Dangote’s share of national supply at no more than 35 percent.
The marketers’ body further raised safety concerns over Dangote’s planned deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, citing past accidents involving Dangote vehicles. It urged regulators to conduct safety audits and driver retraining before allowing the trucks on Nigeria’s already congested highways.
DAPPMAN also criticized Dangote for comments that appeared to undermine government regulators, warning that such remarks could erode public confidence in institutions like the NMDPRA and Customs.
DAPPMAN also challenged Dangote’s claims about product quality, alleging that the refinery itself had sought waivers from regulators to distribute high-sulfur products, a move that would contravene the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). In a final demand for transparency, DAPPMAN urged Dangote to open its production and dispatch records to an independent audit to prove its claims.
Challenging allegations of fuel diversion, the association gave Dangote a seven-day ultimatum to either provide proof or retract the claim, warning of possible legal action if ignored.
“We do not seek conflict,” DAPPMAN stated. “What we demand is a fair and competitive market where consumers benefit from efficiency and choice. We will resist any attempt to create a monopoly masked as patriotism.”
The association called on regulators, the media, and the public to remain vigilant against moves that could erode competition in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.