The House of Representatives has called on government to direct NNPCL to allow Independent Marketers access to Dangote refinery
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery to allow independent marketers to lift Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the newly operational Dangote Refinery.
It also mandated the NNPCL to reveal the price it sells crude oil to Dangote refinery and Dangote Refinery to reveal the price it sell PMS to NNPCL to ensure transparency.
These resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Oboku Oforji (APC Bayelsa), during plenary on Thursday.
Oforji raised concerns that only major marketers have been granted access to lift petrol from the Dangote Refinery, which he argued creates a monopoly that could harm the nation’s fuel market. He warned that independent marketers might be forced to rely on fuel imports to keep their businesses afloat, a move that could undermine efforts to improve local fuel supply.
In his motion, Oforji praised the Dangote Group for starting petroleum refining in Nigeria, describing it as a step toward achieving energy self-sufficiency. He highlighted the potential benefits, including cost and foreign exchange savings, meeting domestic fuel demand, attracting foreign investment, and boosting Nigeria’s GDP through the export of finished products.
However, he expressed concern that since the Dangote Refinery began operations on September 15, 2024, the NNPCL had only granted access to major marketers, excluding independent marketers from lifting PMS. Oforji warned that this arrangement promotes a monopoly, which he likened to greed, especially given NNPCL’s history of mismanagement of the nation’s crude and refineries.
“The House is worried that NNPCL and the major marketers as exclusive off-takers, spell monopoly which is equivalent to greed. This is the same NNPCL that has failed to manage our crude and refineries for decades.
“If this monopoly is not nipped in the bud, the suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the scarcity of PMS will continue and we all know the implications on the economy,” Oforji stated
He further highlighted the concerns of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which fears it may have to resort to fuel imports to sustain its business if not granted access to lift products from the refinery.
The House acknowledged the strides being made toward energy self-sufficiency and encouraged the NNPCL to open access for independent marketers to lift fuel from the Dangote Refinery. It emphasized that millions of Nigerians depend on PMS, and equitable access to the product is necessary to ease the difficulties citizens face in obtaining fuel.
To address these concerns, the House urged Dangote Refinery to build, acquire or partner with stakeholders to get Tank Farms or depots across the geo-political zones in the country, to enhance petroleum availability to the people.
In a related development, Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas (APC Kaduna), inaugurated ad-hoc committee to be chaired by House Leader Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo) to serve in a joint committee with the Senate to investigate the ongoing crisis in the petroleum sector. The panel is tasked with developing recommendations to resolve the issues facing the industry.
Other members of the committee include Kelechi Nwogu (PDP, Rivers), Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom), and Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), Rep. Fatima Talba (APC Yobe), Rep. Igariway Oduma (PDP Ebonyi),Rep. Aliyu Misau (APC Bauchi), Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr (APC Ekiti) amongst others.
