December 19, (THEWILL) — The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members nationwide to prioritise the purchase of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, declaring that continued fuel importation is no longer an acceptable business model.
The association said the directive was informed by competitive pricing and the strategic need to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity while reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
In a statement, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said the move was aimed at supporting local production and conserving foreign exchange.
“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 most affordable price for marketers today”, he said.
The directive comes ahead of a major logistics upgrade by the Dangote Refinery, which is expected to commence direct supply of PMS to registered IPMAN members from January 2026, including free delivery to filling stations across the country.
IPMAN said the initiative would improve supply efficiency, stabilise nationwide distribution and potentially lead to lower pump prices for consumers.
The association, which controls more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s petrol retail outlets, warned that continued fuel importation undermines the local refining market and weakens the economy.
Shettima criticised what he described as the “reckless” issuance of fuel import licences, noting that imports drain foreign exchange, destroy jobs and discourage investment in domestic refining.
“Continuous import is not an acceptable parallel business model”, he said, urging regulators to prioritise locally refined petroleum products in line with national economic objectives.
Beyond backing the Dangote Refinery, IPMAN disclosed plans to invest in refinery ownership and appealed to the new leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to introduce policies that would enable independent marketers to own and operate refineries.
Shettima also commended President Bola Tinubu for recent leadership changes in key regulatory agencies, saying the reforms have created a more conducive environment for private sector partnerships, including the collaboration between IPMAN and the Dangote Refinery.
He expressed optimism that sustained support for local refining would enhance energy security, create jobs and drive long-term stability in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
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