The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has told Dangote Refinery its demands.
The spokesperson of DAPPMAN, Ikem Ohia, made the position of the marketers known on a Channels TV programme: “The Morning Brief.”
Ohia, who featured on the programme on Wednesday, said that the broad demand was for Dangote Refinery to adopt an open-door supply policy and provide marketers with fair access to petroleum products at reasonable prices.
He said the partnership with the refinery would guarantee steady fuel availability across the country.
He debunked a widespread notion that the association conflicted with the Dangote Refinery, adding that all they wanted was collaboration that would help eliminate fuel queues and ensure Nigerians benefit from a stable supply.
He said: “Our key interest is to have petroleum products offered at reasonable prices consistently, in a way that there’s no stock-out and Nigerians no longer queue for fuel.”
Ohia explained that while Dangote Refinery was the dominant supplier, a development the marketers welcomed, the core challenge was access and pricing.
He asked: “The question is: at what price does he offer us, and do we actually have access to purchase these products from him?”
To efficiently move petroleum products across the country, he said DAPPMAN members had, for more than 20 years, built a robust distribution network, with depots strategically located in Calabar, Cross River State; Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Warri, Delta State; and Apapa, Lagos State.
“What we are asking Dangote to do is to use these depots that are already in existence for us to meet the demands of Nigerians,” he said.
Dismissing suggestions that marketers asked for subsidies, the spokesperson of DAPPMAN stressed that the matter was purely commercial.
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Ohia said: “We are businessmen.
“He is a businessman.
“We’re not asking for subsidies.
“We went into negotiations and are still negotiating to see how he can bridge the gap.”
Ohia explained that most global refineries supply through two models: Wholesale bulk lifting by vessels and ex-gantry retail sales, adding: “Ideally, refineries emphasise bulk evacuation through off-takers who can lift massive quantities and allow continuous production.
“Relying only on retail gantry sales cannot meet national demand.”
According to the spokesperson, DAPPMAN had reached out to Dangote Refinery before production started, seeking collaboration to take products in bulk, but understanding has yet to be firmly reached.
He said: “Instead, he prefers to work with a few selected partners, which includes one or two of our members.
“We believe an open system, not a controlled one, will help the country.”
Ohia added that many DAPPMAN members also operate retail networks of up to 300 stations that could distribute products nationwide, but currently face restricted supply.
He said: “Figures don’t lie.
“Whatever is supplied now doesn’t meet full market needs.
“Bulk deliveries to depots are necessary if we must serve Nigerians effectively.”
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