Marketers are contemplating a nationwide downward adjustment of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as Dangote Refinery finalises free delivery of the petroleum product.
A petroleum sector source disclosed that modalities have reached a conclusive stage to ensure a total coverage of all parts of the country in the free delivery.
It was further disclosed that the exercise would commence soon and adequate bridging would cover key marketing associations that have signified interest to partner with Dangote Refinery.
Already market operators anticipate downward price review in response to the planned free delivery of refined petrol to registered members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and petrol stations nationwide, aiming for January 2026.
“The ultimate target is to improve supply, stabilise prices, and support local marketers, though this is a logistical service (free transport), rather than giving away fuel for free to the public, with the goal of lowering pump prices by cutting distribution costs and bypassing middlemen.
Though, the exercise is yet to commence, the national president of the IPMAN, Abubakar Shettima, was reported to have said the country would witness a downward spiral price effect at the take off of the exercise.
Shettima, it was further learnt, had said his members anticipated a further crash from current price levels.
According to him, once the exercise begins, IPMAN members will review downward pump price levels to reflect the free distribution gains.
He said one of the key factors that put pressure on PMS pump price is the cost of transportation of products to designated outlets.
The IPMAN president, assured that with the agreement reached with Dangote Refinery, price of the products would drop significantly in the North as Dangote trucks would help offset logistics costs.
He also stated that his members would not have to further source products from importers since the agreement would help reduce further associated costs.
Shettima, it was said, therefore urged the government to jettison the policy of importation of PMS, noting that such a policy said was impacting negatively on the economy.
Dangote Refinery is working on the expansion of its existing facility to provide adequate support services to petroleum marketers, assuring that free product delivery will commence in January 2026.
“This service may be available to expanded marketing groups as the IPMAN has called on all its members nationwide to patronise the refinery in their purchase of petrol.
“The IPMAN noted that the refinery already offers the best affordable price for all marketers.
“The association also expressed delight over a recent agreement by the Dangote Refinery to begin the supply of petrol directly to registered IPMAN members,” it was stated.
IPMAN applauded the support of the chairman of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, towards the Federal Government, which it noted had become evident in the regular reduction of the petroleum pump price.
“The association has the highest percentage of the supply chain of the PMS downstream sector, controlling over 80 per cent of the PMS retail market.
“We therefore declare that there will be no gap or scarcity in PMS supply to Nigerians.
“We are also excited at the recent agreement by the Dangote Refinery to begin the supply of PMS products directly to registered IPMAN members, and its free delivery to our filling stations anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria which will commence in January 2026.
“This will again, certainly lead to further decrease in the pump price of the products at our filing stations.
“Therefore, 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 prize for all marketers today.
“At IPMAN we have no doubt as to the viability of the oil and gas policies being initiated by the Federal Government.
“We have ceaselessly called and sought for enhanced cooperation across all levels of governance in the oil and gas sector. Hence our repeated persuasion to always partner Dangote Refinery, to ensure the steady availability of PMS products.
“The focus of Dangote Refinery and IPMAN partnership, has always been geared towards making life better for Nigerians.
“Of course, this blooming partnership would never have been possible without the pragmatic leadership of President Bola Tinubu, and his sound judgment in readjusting the leadership of the NMDPRA and the NUPRC.
“Our position has always been to deepen domestic refining in order to eradicate imports of petroleum products.
“Continuous import is not an acceptable parallel business model, because issuing import licenses recklessly distorts market dynamics, drains foreign exchange, enthrones poverty, destroys jobs, and scares potential investors away,” Shettima was reported to have said.
•Source: https://opr.news
