Dangote Refinery, DAPPMAN fight over N1.5tn fuel subsidy claims

Dangote Refinery and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers of Nigeria are in a war of words over N1.5 trillion fuel subsidy claims.

The $20 billion 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in a statement on Wednesday accused DAPPMAN of requesting N1.5 trillion as subsidies for its members to align with the oil firms’ gantry price of N820 per litre.

“We wish to make it clear that we have no intention of increasing our gantry price to accommodate such demands, nor are we willing to pay a subsidy of over N1.5 trillion, a practice that historically defrauded the Federal Government for many years.

“DAPPMAN and other marketers are welcome to lift products directly from our gantry and benefit from our logistics-free initiative,” Dangote Refinery said in a statement to the media.

The oil company further alleged that DAPPMAN was smuggling and diverting petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

Dangote Refinery added that while it exported 3,229,881 metric tonnes of PMS, AGO, and aviation fuel, marketers imported

3,687,828 metric tonnes between June and September 2025.

Meanwhile, DAPPMAN has denied all allegations by Dangote Refinery and threatened to sue the oil firm.

Petroleum marketers under DAPPMAN gave Dangote Refinery seven days to retract allegations.

DAPPMAN further challenged Dangote Refinery to provide evidence for its claims.

It accused Dangote Refinery of offering a $40/MT discount to foreign traders but denied Nigerian marketers.

“It is, in fact, the Dangote Refinery that offers discounts of over $40/MT to foreign traders while denying Nigerian marketers access to coastal vessel loading and restricting them to gantry-only lifting.

“We challenge Dangote Refinery to present verifiable evidence that DAPPMAN members are diverting products to neighbouring countries.

“Smuggling is a national security matter. If any member is complicit, let the relevant agencies act.

“We issue a 7-day ultimatum to the refinery to either retract this allegation or provide documented proof. If neither occurs, we reserve the right to seek legal redress,” DAPPMAN stated on Wednesday.

DAILY POST reports that the court on Wednesday barred the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from strike action against Dangote Refinery over anti-labour practices.

Dangote Refinery had in the past dragged DAPPMAN, Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited, to court over importation before the oil firm discontinued the lawsuit in July 2025.

Dangote Refinery, DAPPMAN fight over N1.5tn fuel subsidy claims