Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have stopped collecting petrol from the Dangote Refinery after the facility ceased its loading operations. Oyewole Akanni, the Western Zone Chairman of the group, stated that this pause has compelled marketers to purchase fuel from private depots instead, where costs have climbed sharply and caused widespread market instability.
Akanni noted that the refinery stopped its loading activities roughly four days ago without providing advance warning or a public explanation. Consequently, many trucks remain stalled at the site, waiting to be filled. Because of the erratic price changes at private depots, many business owners are hesitant to restock, leading to the temporary closure of some fuel stations.
Despite these logistical hurdles, Akanni confirmed that the nation is not currently experiencing a fuel scarcity and urged citizens to avoid panic buying. He did, however, caution that retail costs might increase if the current disruption continues. The situation has also impacted the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which also utilizes the refinery for its supply chain. Reports suggest that some importers are already looking to raise depot prices, which may eventually drive up retail fuel costs.
