The Dangote Group has strongly refuted claims by the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) that its refinery sells petrol to international traders at cheaper rates than those available to Nigerian marketers.
Olufemi Adewole, the Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, had previously alleged that Dangote’s refinery was selling petrol to international traders in Lome, Togo, at prices N65 lower than those offered to Nigerian marketers. According to Adewole, local marketers found it more economical to import petrol from Togo than to buy directly from the Dangote refinery in Nigeria.
In response, the Dangote Group issued a statement on Monday, dismissing the allegations as “misleading and inaccurate.” The company questioned the pricing disparity between Nigeria and Togo, pointing out that the pump price of petrol in Togo is significantly higher than in Nigeria. “It is incorrect to claim that the price of petrol in Togo is lower than in Nigeria. A straightforward check reveals that the average pump price in Lomé stands at approximately 680 CFA francs per litre, which is equivalent to N1,826,” the statement clarified.
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Dangote also pointed out that over 60% of the crude oil processed at its refinery is imported, but it has still managed to position Nigeria as the primary source of affordable petrol for West Africa.
The company also accused some marketers of engaging in round-tripping practices—purchasing petrol in Nigeria, sending it through Togo, and then re-importing it into Nigeria at inflated prices. The Dangote Group questioned the rationale behind this practice, given the substantial transportation costs incurred by marketers who use this route.
“Why not join the growing list of local partners of the Dangote refinery if their true intention is to serve the Nigerian market?” the statement continued, emphasizing that local partners of the refinery already enjoy a range of benefits such as volume-based discounts, credit facilities, and logistical support.
