The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sharply criticized the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for opposing its recent petrol price reductions.
In a statement issued on 15th September 2025, the company accused both groups of protecting entrenched interests that profit from Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel, undermining efforts toward energy self-sufficiency.
Dangote’s management condemned DAPPMAN’s claim that the refinery’s price cuts, announced on September 10, 2025, were “unpatriotic,” and NUPENG’s dismissal of the reductions as a “Greek gift.” The company argued that such criticisms expose a resistance to reforms benefiting Nigerians.
“It is regrettable that NUPENG has allowed itself to be weaponized by powerful oil import cartels that have consistently benefited from Nigeria’s over-reliance on imported petroleum products, to the detriment of national growth and economic independence,” the statement read.
Dangote further challenged DAPPMAN’s stance, asking, “Where is their own gift? If, as they claim, it is cheaper to import than to refine domestically, why have these same players not voluntarily reduced prices ahead of the Dangote Refinery’s interventions?”
It bears mentioning that the refinery also addressed DAPPMAN’s allegations about its fuel distribution model, which involves 4,000 CNG-powered trucks launched in early September 2025 to lower delivery costs.
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DAPPMAN claimed on September 13, 2025, that marketers are forced to use these trucks at commercial rates, adding financial strain. Dangote refuted this, emphasizing compliance with labor laws and workers’ rights to join unions like NUPENG, which had threatened strikes over similar disputes on September 8, 2025, before federal mediation halted the action.
Additionally, Dangote debunked DAPPMAN’s claim that its petrol is cheaper in Togo than Nigeria. On September 15, 2025, the company noted that Lomé’s pump price averages 680 CFA francs per liter (about ₦1,826), far higher than Nigeria’s ₦865.
It accused some DAPPMAN members of “round-tripping,” exporting local fuel for re-importation at inflated prices. As of September 2025, the refinery meets 30-35% of Nigeria’s fuel demand, with depots handling the rest, underscoring the need for cooperation to stabilize the market.
