PUNCH
The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, has raised concerns over difficulties faced by IPMAN members in accessing fuel at the Dangote Refinery, despite a N40bn payment made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Maigandi revealed that despite NNPCL’s directive for IPMAN members to pick up fuel at the Lagos-based refinery, some marketers waited with their trucks for four days without being able to load any product.
He expressed surprise at Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote’s statement on Tuesday, claiming the refinery has 500 million litres of premium motor spirit, also known as petrol, in stock and is ready to supply the nation.
“If the refinery truly has 500 million litres, then there should be no reason our members couldn’t load after four days.
“We’re willing to buy the product directly if the refinery is ready to sell to us, but for now, our members can’t access it even after paying,” Maigandi said while speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily.
The refinery, touted as Africa’s largest, reportedly has the capacity to produce over 30 million litres of fuel daily at full capacity.
Dangote, during a recent visit to President Bola Tinubu, reassured that the facility is prepared to meet local demand, emphasising that the stock in reserve could sustain the country for over 12 days without imports.
