Dangote Group denied claims it sells petrol cheaper to foreign traders than Nigerian marketers.
The company said prices in Togo are higher and accused some marketers of round-tripping fuel.
The Dangote Group has rejected accusations by the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) that its refinery offers petrol to international traders at lower prices than those available to Nigerian marketers.
DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, recently alleged that some members of the association were able to purchase petrol through middlemen in Lomé, Togo, at rates about ₦65 less per litre than the refinery’s direct prices in Nigeria. He also said attempts by local marketers to buy directly from Dangote had proved more expensive, making imports appear more attractive.
Adewole claimed that international traders were receiving petrol at cheaper rates, enabling them to re-sell to Nigerian buyers while still making a profit.
Dangote Responds
In a statement issued on Monday, the Dangote Group described the claims as “false and misleading.” The company pointed out that Nigeria’s average pump price is around ₦865 per litre, while retail prices in Togo are far higher.
According to the statement, “It is not true that petrol in Togo is cheaper than in Nigeria. Data shows that the average pump price in Lomé is about 680 CFA francs per litre roughly ₦1,826 far higher than Nigeria’s current rates. This is exactly the type of pricing model some marketers appear to be promoting.”
Dangote maintained that its refinery has made Nigeria the key supplier of affordable petrol to West Africa, despite importing more than 60 per cent of the crude oil it refines. The company also accused some marketers of round-tripping purchasing products produced in Nigeria, moving them through Togo, and then re-importing them at inflated prices.
The statement added, “It is clear some operators prioritize importation and arbitrage over direct partnerships. Considering the billions spent on transporting products from Lomé to Lagos, one must question the logic of this practice.”
Dangote noted that Nigerian partners already receive incentives such as volume-based discounts, credit support, and logistics assistance to keep fuel affordable and available across the country.
The group further explained that pricing may differ depending on whether products are collected at Single Point Mooring facilities or directly from the gantry. While offshore transfers are simpler, cross-border land transportation carries more risk and cost, it said.
Dangote concluded that for some operators, the fuel business has shifted from serving Nigerian consumers to exploiting arbitrage opportunities in West African markets.
