Abubakar Garima, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has revealed that the organization is currently facing an outstanding debt of over 40 billion naira with the NNPCL. He expressed surprise at Aliko Dangote’s claim of possessing more than 500 million liters of petrol, stating that IPMAN is prepared to purchase fuel directly from Dangote if he is willing to sell.
Garima emphasized that his members are not engaged in petrol imports, contradicting Dangote’s assertions. He argued that instead of routing purchases through the NNPCL, Dangote’s refinery should allow independent marketers to register directly for more efficient product loading.
“We are ready to buy the product if it can be sold to us directly, as we have the funds available. However, despite our substantial payment held by the NNPCL, we are unable to obtain the fuel,” Garima noted. He recounted instances where marketers sent to load at Dangote’s facility experienced delays, with some waiting up to four days without being able to fill their trucks.
In a recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Dangote claimed his refinery is not receiving sufficient patronage from marketers. However, Garima countered that with IPMAN’s large membership and financial commitment, there should be a direct supply channel to alleviate the issues at hand.
He suggested that if Dangote were to permit independent marketers to procure fuel directly, it could lead to a decrease in petrol prices. Garima urged Dangote to reassess his pricing strategy, questioning whether his rates are competitive compared to imported fuel.
As Nigerians face soaring food and energy costs—exacerbated by a recent spike in petrol prices from under 200 to over 1,000 naira per litre—many have attributed these challenges to the removal of petrol subsidies and forex rate adjustments under the Tinubu administration. This has forced many to rely on public transportation instead of their own vehicles.
