The Dangote Group has issued a statement denying reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced lifting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This clarification came in response to a headline published by BusinessDay Newspapers on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, which claimed that NNPC had lifted Dangote petrol and was selling it at N897 per liter.
Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, stated that the reported lifting of petrol by NNPC from their refinery has not begun. “NNPC has not commenced lifting of refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from our Dangote Petroleum Refinery,” Chiejina clarified.
He further explained that because the lifting of petrol has not started, the issue of pricing does not arise. The Dangote Group and NNPC are still in the process of finalizing their contract, and until this is completed, no pricing discussions can take place.
Chiejina emphasized that the PMS market is strictly regulated, and the pricing of petrol is under the jurisdiction of relevant government authorities. “We cannot determine, fix, or influence the product price,” he stated, reiterating that all oil marketers and stakeholders are aware of this regulation.
The Dangote Group has urged the public to disregard the misleading headline by BusinessDay, as it does not accurately represent the current situation. The company reassured Nigerians of its commitment to providing high-quality petroleum products that will be readily available nationwide.
This statement comes as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues its preparation to commence full-scale operations, aiming to boost local production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
