The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members nationwide to prioritise the purchase of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, citing competitive pricing and the need to strengthen domestic refining capacity.
In a statement, IPMAN National President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said the move would significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and support local production.
“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 best affordable price for all marketers today,” Shettima said.
He disclosed that from January 2026, the Dangote Refinery will commence direct supply of PMS to registered IPMAN members, including free delivery to filling stations across the country. According to him, the initiative is expected to further stabilise fuel supply and potentially reduce pump prices nationwide.
IPMAN, which controls over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol retail market, warned that continued fuel importation distorts the market, depletes foreign exchange reserves, destroys local jobs and discourages investment in the downstream sector. Shettima criticised what he described as the “reckless” issuance of fuel import licences, urging regulators to give priority to locally refined products.
“Continuous import is not an acceptable parallel business model,” he stated.
Beyond fuel sourcing, IPMAN also expressed interest in owning refineries. Shettima called on the new leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to introduce policies that would enable independent marketers to invest in and operate refineries, as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.
The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recent leadership changes in key regulatory agencies, noting that the reforms have helped create stronger industry partnerships, including the collaboration with the Dangote Refinery.
“The focus of the Dangote and IPMAN partnership has always been geared towards making life better for Nigerians,” Shettima said.
IPMAN also drew attention to unresolved challenges facing its members, particularly over N190 billion in outstanding bridging claims yet to be paid.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum products after years of dependence on imports due to non-functional state-owned refineries. Industry analysts say the strengthened collaboration between IPMAN and the Dangote Refinery could improve fuel availability and contribute to price stability in the months ahead.
