- Delivers 45m litres of petrol, 25m litres of diesel daily
- FG to earn 15% import duty from 32ml/d of petrol
- IPMAN: policy will lead to increase in establishment of local refineries
- ADC demands reversal of new import duty
Dangote Petroleum Refinery yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to a steady and uninterrupted supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) nationwide, with a daily production capacity exceeding domestic demand.
Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, said in Lagos that the refinery’s operations are driven by the company’s dedication to supporting national energy stability and consumer confidence.
He spoke against the backdrop of fears over the likely effects of the recently announced 15% tariff on imported petrol and diesel.
National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, said separately yesterday that the new tariff was nothing for Nigerians to worry about.
He said the policy was essentially designed to discourage importation and attract investors to establish refineries in the country.
“Our refinery is currently loading over 45 million litres of PMS and 25 million litres of diesel daily, which exceeds Nigeria’s demand,” Mr Chiejina said.
He added: “We are working collaboratively with regulatory agencies and distribution partners to guarantee efficient nationwide delivery.
“Dangote remains steadfast in its commitment to meeting the energy needs of Nigerians.
“This significant production capacity not only guarantees local supply but also enhances energy security and reduces dependence on imports.”
He noted that improved local production of petroleum products has helped to stabilise the exchange rate and strengthen the naira.
“We have reduced foreign exchange outflows and increased inflows, which in turn supports the naira and strengthens the economy,” he said.
He also said that it would be unpatriotic for anyone to criticise the recently announced tariff, which, according to him, is a good start.
He emphasised that the tariff is designed to protect domestic industries from unfair competition and safeguard local production.
“Dumping engenders poverty, discourages industrialisation, creates unemployment and leads to revenue loss for the government.
“Across the world, nations protect their local manufacturers and industries from the threat of dumping.
“Dumping destroyed our textile industry, which was once a major employer of labour and creator of wealth,” he said.
According to him, government should, in addition to the imposition of the tariff, strengthen its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent the dumping of substandard and toxic petroleum products by unscrupulous and rent-seeking individuals who prioritise profiteering at the expense of Nigerians, often undermining well-intentioned government policies for their selfish interests.
He said the prevalence of dumping over the years has discouraged investors from establishing industries in Nigeria, as imported products flooded the market at unsustainable prices, undermining local production.
The new tariff policy, he noted, would benefit local refiners and encourage fresh investments in the downstream oil sector, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base and creating more jobs.
He commended the foresight of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the tariff policy aimed at strengthening and transforming Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector.
He noted that the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to creating a stable, business-friendly environment that supports local investment and enhances energy security.
He said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to embody courageous and visionary leadership, renewing the hope of Nigerians and restoring investor confidence in the nation’s economy.
“His administration’s bold and business-friendly reforms are reshaping the downstream oil and gas sector, unlocking new opportunities for industrial growth and national prosperity.
“The latest policy initiative stands as a testament to his foresight — one of the most transformative steps yet toward securing Nigeria’s energy future and empowering local industries to thrive.”
He warned that failure to protect local industries could lead to large-scale dumping from countries in Asia and Europe with excess production capacity.
Such practices, he said, would strangulate domestic refineries, cripple allied industries and undermine the laudable policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at promoting industrial growth and economic stability.
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, recently assured Nigerians that the prices of petrol will not be hiked during the ember months, despite recent global price increases.
The refinery, he said, “is fully committed to maintaining an uninterrupted supply of petrol throughout the festive period. Nigerians can look forward to a Christmas and New Year free of fuel anxiety.”
The average price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in September 2024 was about N1,030 per litre, compared to an average of N841–N851 per litre in September 2025, following the implementation of the Dangote Refinery’s Direct Delivery Scheme.
Similarly, as of September 2024, the pump price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) ranged between N1,400 and N1,700 per litre, depending on the state, with prices reaching up to N1,700 in most northern states.
By September 2025, however, the average price had dropped to around N1,020 per litre, reflecting the refinery’s impact on stabilising the market and reducing logistics costs.
IPMAN President: No cause for alarm over 15% tariff
Also speaking on the 15% tariff yesterday, IPMAN President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, said fears of increase in fuel price following the coming into effect of the tariff were misplaced.
“I don’t think the increment will cause anything, because we are still selling at the same price since the news broke,” he told The Nation on the phone.
“There is no cause for alarm since we have a local refinery that can meet the national demand.
“The policy is to encourage investors to build and operate refineries in Nigeria instead of relying on importation.”
Head of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. George Ene-Ita, said Nigeria currently imports 64 per cent of the 50 million litres consumed nationwide while the balance of 34% is supplied locally.
“Our daily national PMS consumption is (about) 50 million litres. Out of this, we import approximately 64% leaving local output at about 36%,” he said via WhatsApp in response to inquiry by The Nation.
News of the tariff introduction broke on Wednesday.
President Bola Tinubu, in an October 21, 2025 memo to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, gave the go ahead for immediate implementation of the tariff as part of a “market-responsive import tariff framework.”
The initiative is aimed at protecting local refineries and stabilising the downstream market, but it is likely to raise pump prices.
ADC demands immediate reversal of 15% Fuel import duty
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday demanded immediate reversal of President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel, warning that the move will deepen the economic hardship already crushing Nigerians.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the policy as insensitive, ill-timed, and ill-conceived, saying it will push fuel prices beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
“From all indications, this new tax could raise petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre, making life unbearable for families, farmers, transporters and small businesses,” the party noted.
The ADC said while it supports private investment in the energy sector, any policy meant to protect such investment must also protect citizens.
It questioned the rationale for imposing the levy under the guise of encouraging local refining, pointing out that the Port Harcourt refinery, cited as a cornerstone of the government’s refining strategy, collapsed barely five months after a $1.5 billion rehabilitation, resulting in a ₦366.2 billion loss.
Accusing the government of removing fuel subsidies and devaluing the naira without social protection measures, the party said: “Tinubu administration’s economic policies have been a string of trial-and-error experiments that continue to ignore the daily struggles of Nigerians.
“Economic growth that condemns the majority to poverty and misery is not progress, it is destruction”.
The ADC urged President Tinubu to “Stop pushing Nigerians to the wall and focus on restoring stability and trust.
“A government that cannot manage its refineries has no business taxing those who keep the nation running with their sweat and blood.”
The party maintained that true economic patriotism cannot be achieved through hardship, noting that if government’s goal is energy security and local refining, there must first be transparent investment in domestic capacity.
“Until then, any tax meant to discourage fuel imports will only worsen costs, since imported fuel still accounts for about 60 per cent of national supply,” it added.
The party insisted that the fuel import tax must be withdrawn immediately, saying Nigerians deserve a government that plans with empathy, not one that governs through pain.
