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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has thrown its full weight behind local refining, directing its members nationwide to prioritise the purchase of petrol from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in a move aimed at cutting imports, saving foreign exchange and stabilising fuel supply.
In a strong statement, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, urged marketers to embrace the Dangote Refinery, describing its pricing as the most competitive in the market and a lifeline for Nigeria’s long-delayed dream of energy self-sufficiency.
“I am calling on all IPMAN members nationwide to prioritise patronising the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, as they already offer the best affordable price for all marketers today,” Shettima said.
The directive comes ahead of a major logistics boost expected in January 2026, when the Dangote Refinery is set to begin direct PMS supply to registered IPMAN members, including free delivery to filling stations nationwide—a development marketers believe could ease distribution bottlenecks and help moderate pump prices.
With IPMAN controlling over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol retail outlets, the association warned that continued fuel importation is damaging the economy. Shettima criticised what he called the reckless issuance of import licences, arguing that imports drain foreign exchange, kill local jobs and discourage investment.
“Continuous import is NOT an acceptable parallel business model,” he declared.
Beyond supporting Dangote, IPMAN also revealed plans to venture into refinery ownership, calling on the new leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to roll out policies that would allow independent marketers to invest in and operate refineries.
The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recent leadership changes in regulatory agencies, saying the reforms are creating room for productive partnerships between private investors and marketers.
“The focus of the Dangote–IPMAN partnership has always been to make life better for Nigerians,” Shettima noted.
However, IPMAN also raised lingering concerns, including over ₦190 billion in unpaid bridging claims owed to its members, urging authorities to urgently resolve the issue.
Industry analysts say the strengthened IPMAN–Dangote alliance could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s downstream sector, potentially delivering more stable fuel supply and easing prices as the country gradually shifts away from imports.
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