- PENGASSAN explained that independent marketers cannot buy petrol directly from Dangote Refinery due to a pricing gap with NNPCL
- The NNPCL buys petrol at approximately N950 per liter but sells it to independent marketers for about N700 per liter
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has explained why independent marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the Dangote Refinery. According to Festus Osifo, the association’s president, the issue lies in a pricing gap between what the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) pays for petrol and its price to independent marketers.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Osifo revealed that NNPCL might buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at around N950 per liter but sells it to independent marketers for approximately N700 per liter. This difference, he said, is a shortfall that NNPCL manages to absorb.
Major marketers, however, would need to buy petrol directly from Dangote Refinery at nearly the same price NNPCL pays, which means they would have to sell it at a higher price—potentially exceeding N1,000 per liter—to remain profitable. As a result, independent marketers prefer to buy from NNPCL due to the lower prices.
Osifo also highlighted that some crude oil is allocated for loan repayments, reducing the volume available for local consumption. He warned that the ongoing divestment trend by International Oil Companies (IOCs) poses challenges for Nigeria, including potential declines in foreign direct investment and production levels.