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Dangote refinery begins direct petrol sale to marketers
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has started supplying Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, to some oil marketers directly without recourse to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
It was gathered that while more oil marketers were intensifying efforts to buy the product directly from the plant, others were importing the commodity, as hundreds of millions of litres of imported PMS should hit Nigeria’s shores in two weeks’ time.
Recall that The PUNCH exclusively reported on Monday that no fewer than four vessels carrying imported PMS arrived at seaports situated along the nation’s borders between Friday, October 18, and Sunday, October 20.
The report cited a document obtained from the Nigerian Port Authority, which showed that about 123.4 million litres of PMS were berthed at two seaports to improve fuel supply nationwide.
The development confirmed an earlier exclusive report by The PUNCH, which disclosed that oil dealers intend to import the commodity to supplement the supply from the $20bn Dangote refinery.
Meanwhile, as major oil marketers import the commodity, their counterparts have started lifting PMS directly from the Lekki-based plant.
A senior official at the refinery said marketers are now allowed to approach the company for direct business transactions on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis.
“Marketers are already coming to the refinery to lift PMS. They are lifting directly from the refinery, not through a third party,” the reliable official, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.
The source, who could not tell the price at which marketers were lifting the product, noted that the oil dealers would not come if the price was not favourable to them.
“We have reached agreements with some of the marketers and more are still ongoing. I don’t know the exact price, but if the price is not good, the marketers would not be coming to us,” the official stated.
He maintained that things are improving, especially as the Federal Government commenced the supply of crude to the facility.
Another official at the facility showed one of our correspondents the trucks of some marketers loading the product directly from the plant without going through NNPC.
“Some of the trucks you saw there today were from marketers purchasing the product directly from Dangote, without recourse to NNPC. So the direct sale has started,” the source stated.
The official explained that due to the high demand for petrol in Nigeria and other countries, the refinery had focused on ensuring 53 per cent of PMS production from its crude oil supplies.
“This could be reviewed in future if the demand for other finished products increases more than the demand for petrol, but right now about 53 per cent of our crude is used for petrol production, while other products account for the remaining percentage,” the official stated.
When asked if marketers had started the direct purchase of petrol from Dangote without recourse to NNPC, one of the notable major marketers in the country replied in the affirmative.
“Yes, everyone is in the process. This was advised that it would happen soon and is a normal business transaction,” the source stated.
But this is contrary to claims from some quarters that the refinery would not be able to sell petrol to marketers unless the deal between it and the NNPC is terminated.
The PUNCH recalls the company had initially announced that the NNPC would be the sole off-taker of its petrol from September 15.
A source at the refinery said this was as decided by the Federal Government. The source said he was taken aback when the Technical Subcommittee on Domestic Sale of Crude Oil in Local Currency announced on October 11 that marketers should now lift petrol directly from the refinery.
“Moving forward, petroleum product marketers are now able to purchase PMS directly from local refineries without the intermediary role of NNPC. Marketers are encouraged to initiate direct purchases from refineries on mutually negotiated commercial terms, which will promote competition and improve market efficiency,” the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, who heads the committee stated in a statement.
As the committee made the announcement, operators said the market had been fully deregulated and they would approach the refinery to apply for PMS lifting.
The PUNCH recalls that the Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, recently led other officials of the association to a meeting with the Vice President of the Dangote Industries, Devakumar Edwin, in Lagos.
Though Fashola did not give much updates about the meeting with Edwin, he appreciated him for the roles he had been playing.
“Edwin received us very well and promised to make things easier for IPMAN to do business with Dangote,” he said.
Fashola added, “We had a fruitful discussion with the group. We have started discussing modalities and other logistics. IPMAN has agreed to work with Dangote. We hope very soon we will start lifting products from the facility.”
However, IPMAN said it could not commence the immediate off-take of the product unless the refinery ends its contract with the NNPC.
But officials at the refinery stated that the refinery was now selling PMS to some marketers.
When the Dangote refinery began the sale of PMS on September 15, the NNPC said it bought the product at the rate of N898/litre; a claim the refinery described as mischievous.
The refinery said the naira-for-crude committee would be the one to announce the price of its PMS. The committee has yet to do so as of October 22.
Credit: PUNCH
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Legislators Serving and Former Forum has tasked all stakeholders especially the Judiciary on projection of Nigeria’s democracy.
The forum gave the charge on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja while reacting to comments allegedly made by some top politicians and public officials that do not advance Nigeria’s democratic processes.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Ms Nnenna Ukeje, a member of the 8th House of Representatives said that as patriots, the forum is committed to national interest and have defended democracy on many fora.
According to her, their intervention stands for the defence, stability, protection of democracy and preservation of our beloved country.
“We must reiterate that there is a clear difference between the tyranny of the majority and true democracy; between illiberal civil rule and a system grounded in democratic contestation; between constitutional governance and authoritarian subjugation.
“Nigeria must remain firmly on the side of democracy, resisting overreach by any arm of government is not subversion; it is a constitutionally given right and duty.
“To the judiciary, we reiterate: this is a defining moment; the tipping point, the nation’s eleventh for survival.
“Your independence must remain sacrosanct. Your integrity must be unquestionable and your patriotism unapologetic. Your decision will determine the drift,” she said.
Ukeje said that Nigeria’s democracy must not be weakened by the very forces that once fought to build it saying that the preservation of democratic space is not a favour to the opposition but a duty owed to the nation.
The former lawmaker said that Nigerians must be very vigilant as democracy does not defend itself but survives only when citizens, institutions, and leaders commit to its protection.
“In conclusion, Nigeria must remain a nation governed by law, not expediency; by robust institutions, not strong individuals; and by the will of the people, not predetermined outcomes.
“Let the judiciary act without interference. Let opposition thrive without intimidation. Let citizens participate without fear.
“Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its people, and it must be protected and defended by all.
We remain committed to defending it through all lawful means; through the courts, through civic engagement, and at the ballot box,” she said. (NAN)
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…..Oyedele elevated to Finance Minister
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the membership of the Federal Executive Council.
According to a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, two cabinet members, Mr. Wale Edun and Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa are to leave the cabinet while their replacements have been named.
Edun, until the latest development, was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
He has been directed to hand over to Mr. Taiwo Oyedele who is now to take over as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Oyedele was formerly a Minister of State in the ministry.
Also Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma (PhD .) has been named as the ministerial nominee and minister designate for the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.
The memo also directed Dangiwa to hand over to the Minister of State in the ministry.
The memo stated that “all handing over and taking over processes should be completed on or before close of business on Thursday 23rd April, 2026.”
Explaining the President’s decision, Akume said: “These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He said the President, in approving the cabinet reshuffle, has fully exercised his powers as conferred on him by Sections 147 and 148 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).
The President thanked the outgoing ministers for their services to the nation while wishing them the best in all their future endeavours.
The President, Akume noted, equally assured all cabinet members that “the process of reinvigoration shall be continuous.”
A United States lawmaker has accused Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of attempting to bribe a U.S. official in a bid to suppress a report alleging genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Kimberly Daniels, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, made the allegation in a video posted on her official Facebook account on Monday. The video has since gained traction online, sparking debate across political and diplomatic circles.
In the video, Daniels claimed that the alleged bribe was intended to influence the narrative surrounding a report by the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), which accused Nigerian authorities of failing to address what it described as targeted killings of Christians in parts of the country.
“A U.S. elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” Daniels said.
The lawmaker, who also serves as chairperson of the UN-WCD, maintained that she would not be intimidated or silenced, insisting that the issue of violence against Christians in Nigeria must be addressed transparently.
Daniels had earlier called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Matawalle from office, alleging his complicity in violent incidents reported in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna.
As of the time of filing this report, Matawalle has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Nigerian government has also not issued an official statement addressing the claims.
The development adds a new dimension to ongoing international scrutiny over security challenges in Nigeria, particularly concerning communal and sectarian violence in parts of the country.
Forum of legislators calls on Judiciary to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy
Tinubu approves minor cabinet reshuffle, sacks Edun, Dangiwa
US Lawmaker Accuses Tinubu’s Minister Of Bribery To Cover Up Genocide Report
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