By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified its position regarding recent claims made by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) concerning payment and product distribution. The refinery emphasized that it has not received any payments from IPMAN for the purchase of refined petroleum products.
In a statement issued by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Office on Thursday in Lagos. The statement comes in the wake of ongoing discussions between Dangote Refinery and IPMAN, during which misleading narratives suggested that IPMAN members were facing challenges in loading refined products from the refinery. The company confirmed that it currently has no direct business dealings with IPMAN and, therefore, cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has not been involved in any transactions with IPMAN; all payments in question have been made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL),” stated Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer. “Additionally, NNPCL has neither approved nor authorized us to release Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to IPMAN.”
The refinery asserted its capability to meet the national demand for petroleum products, stating that it can load up to 2,900 trucks per day and has been actively evacuating products by sea. The company encouraged IPMAN to establish a direct payment system with them to ensure that their members’ needs are met effectively.
Chiejina further urged all stakeholders to avoid making unfounded statements that could hinder the economic efforts led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Conducting business through public speculation is counterproductive and unpatriotic,” he remarked.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery called for collaboration among stakeholders, urging them to heed the advice of President Tinubu and to promote a unified approach rather than engage in media conflicts and misinformation.