News
Marketers Demand Direct Access To Petrol From Dangote Refinery Amid NNPC’s Market Control
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called for direct access to Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the Dangote Refinery, criticizing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for its dominant control over the market.
The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, argued that the market should be open to all players in accordance with the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle previously endorsed by NNPC.
His remarks come in response to recent developments where NNPC has been positioned as the sole off-taker of petrol from the Dangote Refinery.
Despite an initial statement from NNPC last Saturday claiming that it was not the exclusive buyer from the refinery, the Federal Government has now designated NNPC as the sole purchaser.
This decision was confirmed by Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, during a press briefing on Friday.
Edun, represented by Dr. Zacceus Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, disclosed that the refinery would start distributing petrol to marketers from Sunday, with an initial allocation of 25 million litres per day.
In response, Ukadike emphasized the need for market liberalization to ensure fair access and competition, arguing that the current arrangement limits opportunities for other marketers and does not align with the principles of open market competition.
“It should be open for all in line with the willing-buyer and willing-seller comments made by the NNPC. We are also looking at how to build our logistics and come up with our price,” he stated.
Also, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, raised concerns over the risks of creating a new domestic monopoly in the oil and gas sector.
Gillis-Harry said, “Right now, even on Saturday, that business (petrol) is going to start rolling out tomorrow (Sunday), we don’t know what the price might be. Nobody has informed us about anything; we are not aware of what the government is doing.
“We don’t know any of the pricing templates yet or the matrix that will bring about the pricing template. We have been asking Dangote or anybody that is in charge of this transaction to be transparent, but somehow, we have not got any of that information.
“We are about to leave NNPC monopoly from importation and now we are also going to have that in a domestic environment, that portends danger for the industry.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The meeting, which began at 4:15pm with the arrival of President Tinubu is expected to discuss varying issues considered to be critical to the interest of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Convened by the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who passed away in February, PANDEF is the mouthpiece of the traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of the coastal states of the Niger Delta.
Just as the meeting commenced after the National Anthem had been sung, President Tinubu requested that a minute of silence be observed in memory of Chief Clark.
PANDEF, which is attending the meeting with a large entourage, has former governors, senior politicians, traditional rulers, and other categories of stakeholders in attendance.
Among those at the meeting on PANDEF’s entourage are King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; Ambassador Godknows Igali, National Chairman of PANDEF; Senator Seriake Dickson; Professor Mike Ozakhome; former Cross River State governor, Mr Liyel Imoke; former Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.
Others are Jaja of Opobo, Professor Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs Ibim Semenitari, former acting Managing Director of the NDDC; Uche Secondus; Senator Andrew Uchendu; National Coordinator of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Okareme Maikpobi; Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs; spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini.
Also attending are the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy,Bayo Onanuga; Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare; and other aides of the President.
Details shortly…
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A tanker exploded on Tuesday evening on Otedola Bridge along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, causing heavy traffic and panic on the route.
It was gathered that the incident has resulted in traffic congestion on both lanes of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, occurred around 8 p.m which ignited a fire spreading rapidly.
Reacting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team is on the scene working to bring the situation under control.
Details shortly….
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