The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Dangote Refinery have reached an agreement for members of the former to start direct lifting of products from the latter in Lagos.
The development followed an agreement reached by IPMAN and the Dangote Refinery team led by Aliko Dangote.
IPMAN President Abubakar Maigandi, made this known to reporters in Monday in Abuja.
He said “After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS (Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol), AGO (Automated Gas Oil known as Diesel) and DPK (kerosene) directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”
He said, with the acceptance of the refinery’s management to sell directly to his members, petrol would be sold at an ‘’affordable rate to Nigerians.’’
Maigandi also expressed confidence that independent marketers’ direct purchase from the refinery would lead to product availability and security.
IPMAN had in spite of their interest to lift petrol from the refinery been hindered by disagreements between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery management over supply and price.
Asked to state the rates at which the refinery would sell the product to IPMAN members, Maigandi said the two parties were yet to agree on it.
He said: “Already we all know the sector is being fully deregulated. We are going to start contact with Dangote on the issue of price. It is when we get the actual price that we can inform you. But I assure youth that price that we are expecting will be at a lower rate.
‘’Once we reach an agreement on the price, we will start lifting. We have called on all members to get set for taking product through Dangote directly, not through a third party.”
The IPMAN urged marketers to support the refinery, which he said would have ‘’a positive impact on the nation’s foreign exchange and job creation owing to its backward integration.’’
He added: ‘’This new arrangement with the Dangote Refinery will ensure steady and ceaseless supply of PMS products all over Nigeria, at an affordable rate for Nigerians also.
“All IPMAN members should fully support the Dangote Refinery, as it’s the ideal thing to do considering the monumental benefits of backward integration and the medium to long-term impact it will have on the Foreign Exchange markets in Nigeria
“IPMAN members nationwide should rely on the Dangote Refinery and Nigerian Refineries for their white products, as this will translate into ensuring more job opportunities, as well as signify that total support for the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
On the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Maigandi urged IPMAN members to set machinery in place for the transition.
According to him, the CNG has the potential to revive the economy.
But he warned that Nigerians would not access CNG if there was no strong partnership between the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) and IPMAN.
He said: “I would like to call on all our members at IPMAN to begin to put machinery in place for a successful transition of the Federal Government’s plans to initiate CNG refill stations in all our outlets.
“Truly, there is no doubt that CNG has the potential to rejuvenate our economy for a better life for Nigerians, and IPMAN is ready to give all to support the CNG initiative.
“IPMAN is also calling for a partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria to hasten the quick success of the CNG initiative for Nigeria.
‘’We believe that for the CNG initiative to succeed, there must be a credible partnership between IPMAN and the PCNGI, without which Nigerians would not have ready and near access to CNG outlets.”
He also expressed happiness that the association has become peaceful after wasting N11 billion on litigation in the past 10 years.
The association’s Board of Trustees Chairman Abdulkadir Aminu urged members to remain united and support IPMAN’s leadership.
Aminu said the previous discomfort in the industry was over as NNPCL was no longer the supplier of products.
