Marketers Expect Lower Petrol Prices As Dangote Finalises Plan For Free Distribution

A nationwide petrol price adjustment is expected soon as marketers prepare to take free delivery of products from Dangote refinery.

A source close to the refinery confirmed to LEADERSHIP that modalities are being finalised to ensure all areas of the country are covered.

Our source said the exercise would commence soon and adequate bridging would cover key marketing associations that have signified interest to partner with the refinery.

Already market operators anticipate downward price tweak in response to the refinery’s planned free delivery of its refined petrol to registered members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and petrol stations nationwide, aiming for January 2026.

The ultimate target is to improve supply, stabilise prices, and support local marketers, though this is a logistical service (free transport) rather than giving away fuel for free to the public, with the goal of lowering pump prices by cutting distribution costs and bypassing middlemen.

Though, the exercise is yet to commence, the national president of the IPMAN, Abubakar Shettima, in a chat with the LEADERSHIP said the country would witness a downward spiral price effect at the take off of the exercise.

Shettima, told our correspondent on the phone that his members anticipated a further crash from current price levels.

According to him, once the exercise begins, IPMAN members will review downward pump price levels to reflect the free distribution gains.

He said that one of the key factors that put pressure on pump price is cost of transportation of products to designated outlets.

The IPMAN president, assured that with the agreement reached with Dangote refinery, price of the products would drop significantly in the north as Dangote trucks would help offset logistics costs.

He also stated that his members would  not have to further source products from importers since the agreement would help reduce further associated costs.

Shettima, urged government to jettison the policy of products importation which he said iwas mpacting negatively on the economy.

Our correspondent reports that Dangote refinery is building on existing facility expansion to provide adequate support services to petroleum marketers as it said free product delivery will commence in January 2026.

This services may be available to expanded marketing groups as the IPMAN has called on all its members nationwide to patronise the refinery in their purchase of petrol.

The IPMAN noted that the refinery already offers the best affordable price for all marketers.

The association also expressed delight over a recent agreement by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to begin the supply of petrol directly to registered IPMAN members.

The IPMAN applauded the support of the Chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote towards the Federal Government, which it noted had become evident in the regular reduction of the petroleum pump price.

According to Shettima, “the association has the highest percentage of the supply chain of the PMS downstream sector, controlling over 80% of the PMS retail market. We therefore declare that there will be no gap or scarcity in PMS supply to Nigerians.

“We are also excited at the recent agreement by the Dangote Refinery to begin the supply of PMS products directly to registered IPMAN members, and its free delivery to our filling stations anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria which will commence in January 2026.

“This will again, certainly lead to further decrease in the pump price of the products at our filing stations. Therefore, I am calling on all IPMAN members nationwide to prioritise patronising the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, as they already offer the best affordable prize for all marketers today”, the statement added.

The IPMAN boss noted that “At IPMAN we have no doubt as to the viability of the oil and gas policies being initiated by the Federal Government, and we have ceaselessly called and sought for enhanced cooperation across all levels of governance in the oil and gas sector. Hence our repeated persuasion to always partner the Dangote refinery, to ensure the steady availability of PMS products.

“The focus of the Dangote & IPMAN partnership, has always been geared towards making life better for Nigerians. And of course, this blooming partnership would never have been possible without the pragmatic leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his sound judgment in readjusting the leadership of the NMDPRA and the NUPRC.

Our position has always been to deepen domestic refining in order to eradicate imports of petroleum products. Continuous import is NOT an acceptable parallel business model, because issuing import licenses recklessly distorts market dynamics, drains foreign exchange, enthrones poverty, destroys jobs, and scares potential investors away,” Shettima added.