Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has firmly denied reports alleging that its refined petroleum products are exported to Lomé, Togo, and then re-imported into Nigeria through unofficial channels, calling the claims “false, misleading and lacking any commercial or operational basis.”
In a detailed statement, the company said it was concerned by what it described as “unfounded reports” circulating in the public space, suggesting that fuel produced at its refinery is being routed through neighbouring countries before re-entering the Nigerian market.
While the management noted it “does not usually respond to baseless allegations,” it said it was compelled to clarify the issue in the interest of transparency and public understanding.
“No verifiable data or commercial logic” behind claims
The refinery stressed that the allegations are not supported by trade data, operational realities, or basic business logic.
According to the statement, “the allegations are not supported by verifiable trade data, commercial logic or the operational realities of the refinery.”
It added that its core mandate is to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply and reduce dependence on imports, insisting that any arrangement enabling re-importation would directly contradict that objective.
Contracts explicitly prohibit re-importation
The company further disclosed that its sales contracts and tender agreements include strict clauses preventing buyers from reselling or re-importing products back into Nigeria.
Management argued that such safeguards are part of its broader compliance framework designed to ensure transparency and traceability across the supply chain.
It maintained that every shipment is fully documented, including lifting points, nominated vessels, counterparties, and declared destinations, making it possible to track products from refinery to final delivery.
Why the “round-trip” claim is economically unviable
Dangote Refinery also challenged the economic rationale behind the allegation, saying the cost structure makes such a scheme commercially unrealistic.
The company estimated that transporting petroleum products from Nigeria to Lomé and back would cost between $82 and $90 per metric tonne.
It stated that this additional logistics burden would significantly erode profit margins.
“Dangote Refinery does not provide export discounts sufficient to offset these costs or create arbitrage opportunities between export and domestic markets,” the statement said. “Simply put, no rational producer would incur additional shipping, storage, financing and handling costs only for products to re-enter and compete in its primary market.”
Warning over impact on Nigeria’s energy sector
The refinery also warned that encouraging such narratives could undermine broader national goals around energy independence and industrial development.
It reiterated its long-standing position that Nigeria must reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, arguing that practices suggesting re-importation would put pressure on foreign exchange reserves and weaken local refining gains.
The company described the allegations as “entirely unfounded” and said they collapse under scrutiny when measured against established market structures and contractual systems.
Focus on energy security and industrial growth
Reaffirming its stance, the refinery said it remains committed to strengthening domestic refining capacity and contributing to Africa’s broader industrialisation efforts.
It emphasized that its operations are designed to improve energy security, stabilize supply, and support Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market rather than distort it through indirect export loops.
For now, the company maintains that the claims have no basis in fact—framing them instead as a misunderstanding of how its logistics and supply systems operate.