The Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Monday began deploying more than 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks in a direct fuel distribution scheme designed to lower petrol pump prices across Nigeria.
Company officials confirmed that the initiative, which had been delayed since August due to logistics setbacks in China, is now under way. A Dangote Group official said, “The trucks are arriving in hundreds every week,” noting that the first phase would reach Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Kwara, and other South-West states.
The refinery disclosed that its gantry price of petrol would drop to N820 per litre, with retail pump prices in Lagos and the South-West at N841, and Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara at N851. The group said the scheme would expand nationwide as more trucks arrive, with a target of 10,000 CNG vehicles before the end of the year.
According to Dangote, the transition to CNG-powered transport will save the Nigerian economy more than N1.8tn annually by cutting distribution costs, reducing pump prices, and easing inflationary pressures. The group added, “We at Dangote Group have embarked on a large-scale CNG-powered truck roll-out to boost our logistic strength and cost reductions across the distribution value chain of the domestic economy.”
Marketers welcome rollout
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) confirmed readiness to participate. National President Abubakar Shettima said on Sunday, “We are on standby, waiting for Dangote trucks to come. Many of our members have applied to get direct fuel delivery. The registration is done online by individual marketers. We are expecting the trucks to come tomorrow, by God’s grace.”
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On the new pricing, Shettima added, “The price reduction is good; it’s okay. We are going to start with the price he said he will give us, because all that we are after is the masses. If the masses are happy, then we don’t have any problem.”
However, he dismissed criticism of the move as a “Greek gift,” insisting, “We are in Nigeria together. When he starts, people will see what is really going on. So, we will wait for the outcome.”
DAPPMAN, NUPENG raise objections
The Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) at the weekend opposed the price slash, calling it an attempt to suppress competition. Executive Secretary Olufemi Adewole said Dangote sells petrol to international traders at cheaper rates than it offers to local buyers.
NUPENG also accused the refinery of anti-union practices, claiming it prevented drivers from joining the union. The union suspended a strike after federal intervention.
Dangote dismissed both allegations, stressing that its operations have stabilised petrol, diesel, and cooking gas supply while creating more than 570,000 direct and indirect jobs. It added that the programme would benefit over 42 million micro, small, and medium enterprises, revitalise dormant filling stations, and create new roles for truck drivers, fuel attendants, and managers.
The refinery called on stakeholders, including telecoms companies and large-scale fuel consumers, to partner with the scheme, while stressing, “No amount of falsehoods would stop the fuel distribution scheme scheduled for today.”
