Energy policy commentator Dan Kunle has criticized the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) for engaging in battles against recent Dangote Refinery petrol price reductions, terming the association “an enemy of the state” for its failure to invest in local refining capacity.
Featured on Arise News TV’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, Kunle accused DAPPMAN members of “sitting down years talking and talking” instead of mobilizing capital, acquiring refineries that belong to the government, and competing with Dangote.
“Since President Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidy and deregulated the whole downstream architecture, we expected DAPPMAN mobilizing. They could have mobilized new money and invested together with Dangote or independently. Instead of doing nothing, they did nothing,” he added.
Kunle issued a warm welcome to Dangote Refinery as a solution for Nigeria’s oil industry, likening its impact to “light piercing darkness.”
“The light here is Dangote Refinery. He has brought down light from heavens, lowered it to earth: let there be light, and there was light. There is no place to hide anymore,” he claimed.
He accused fuel importers of putting interest above national interest, declaring that Nigerians would automatically be on Dangote’s side. “The other elephants are the importers who want to dump goods on Nigerians. Dangote is offering carrots, while DAPPMAN wants to offer scorpions. Nigerians will line up with Dangote,” he declared.
Kunle also warned that DAPPMAN’s resistance could scare off potential investors like BUA from entering refining. “If this noise continues distracting Dangote and scaring new investors, it will only make him even stronger. They are not investing, hence they are enemies of the state. That is where security agencies need to intervene,” he added.
His comment was made while a face-off has been ensued between DAPPMAN and Dangote Refinery.
Dangote recently cut prices, lowering petrol prices to ₦841 in Lagos and South-West, and ₦851 in Abuja, Edo, and Kwara, from ₦865. The refinery also initiated a direct selling program to retailers.
Responding, DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, described the action as market manipulation, alleging that Dangote only cuts price when competition cargoes are on their way, thereby making other importers incur losses.
DAPPMAN further alleged that the refinery under-prices at home while over-pricing abroad.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Dangote Group as “misleading and inaccurate,” saying its refinery has positioned Nigeria at the podium of being a reliable source of cheap fuel for West Africa. It also accused some marketers of round-tripping buying petrol locally, exporting it to Togo, and importing it into Nigeria at overpriced rates.
“Domestic partners already get discounts, credit facilities, and logistics assistance to make fuel supply in Nigeria cheaper,” the group said.
