Marketers are hopeful that they will soon be able to source premium motor spirit, commonly referred to as petrol, directly from Dangote Refinery as the ongoing scarcity of the product continues to affect the nation. Observations made in Abuja yesterday revealed that many retail outlets are still lacking the product, three months into the current shortages.
In an interview with Vanguard, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, the Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), expressed optimism about reaching an agreement that would facilitate direct supply from the $20 billion refinery. He mentioned that a meeting is set to take place this week between independent marketers and refinery officials.
Chief Ukadike stated, “We are pleased that Dangote is exploring new partnerships with various stakeholders for product distribution. Currently, they are supplying major marketers, and we are hopeful that independent marketers will also benefit in the near future.
Furthermore, the refinery's plan to distribute through coastal areas using vessels is a positive development that could eliminate the persistent issue of phantom scarcity. Once this initiative is effectively implemented, we anticipate that the problem will be resolved.” He also highlighted that pricing remains a significant challenge in petrol distribution, emphasizing the need for independent marketers to acquire the product at competitive rates.