The national leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has distanced itself from the strike notice issued by its Western Zone members, affirming that the association fully supports operations at the newly commissioned Dangote Refinery.
The Western Zone of IPMAN had announced plans to down tools over Dangote Industries Limited’s decision to distribute fuel with its own trucks. But in a statement on Sunday, IPMAN’s National Executive Council said the zonal body lacked the authority to issue such a directive.
Douglas Iyike, IPMAN’s National Ex-Officio, who signed the statement, insisted that the refinery’s distribution model was legal under the Petroleum Industry Act and would ultimately benefit independent marketers.
“The IPMAN National Executive Council, under the leadership of Alhaji Maigandi Shittima, is not aware of any decision by the Western Zone to embark on strike. Such pronouncements can only come from the NEC, not from a zone or depot,” Iyike said.
He explained that the PIA allows private refinery owners to run full operations, including product distribution. According to him, Dangote’s use of its own trucks will help reduce multiple levies marketers pay to petroleum tanker drivers.
“Dangote has not harmed marketers; instead, it has brought relief. The refinery has the capacity to give products on credit, which will enable marketers to sell first and pay later. This is a significant boost for our members and the general public,” he added.
The $20 billion Lagos-based Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest, was recently commissioned to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand and reduce reliance on imported products.
While the Western Zone argued that the direct-to-market approach could sideline tanker drivers, the NEC maintained that the model would lower costs, minimise strike disruptions, and stabilise fuel supply.
“IPMAN nationwide is solidly behind the Dangote Refinery. We will not allow a few individuals to truncate the progress being recorded in the downstream sector,” Iyike stressed.