The Dangote Group has issued a strong rebuttal to recent claims made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding the pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, purchased from their refinery. According to the NNPCL spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, the petrol was acquired at N898 per litre. This information was reported on September 15, 2024, shortly after the commencement of petrol lift-offs from the Dangote refinery, which boasts a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
In a recent statement, NNPCL announced that it had dispatched over 300 trucks to the Dangote refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to collect the first batch of petrol. However, this announcement was accompanied by the assertion that the petrol was purchased at the rate of N898 per litre. Soneye refuted earlier reports that the purchase price was N760 per litre.
Responding to these claims, the Dangote Group has denied the pricing allegation. In a detailed press release posted on their official website and Instagram, the Group characterized the statement as misleading and mischievous. They described it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the significant achievement of addressing energy insufficiency, a longstanding issue that has plagued Nigeria’s economy for decades.
The Dangote Group urges the public to dismiss the erroneous statement and await an official announcement regarding pricing. This announcement will be issued by the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales to local refineries, which is set to begin its work on October 1, 2024. The Group clarified that the crude used was purchased in dollars, and that the transaction with NNPCL was conducted in the same currency, resulting in substantial savings compared to current import costs.
The press release concluded with a commitment to ensuring the availability of quality petroleum products across Nigeria, including in remote areas, aiming to resolve the persistent fuel scarcity issues.
For further information, the Dangote Group assures Nigerians that they remain dedicated to providing a reliable supply of petrol and addressing the fuel supply challenges that have impacted the country.
