PETROAN President Tackles Dangote Over Petrol Sufficiency Claims

The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, has urged billionaire industrialist, Aliko Dangote, to back his claims with action, insisting that words alone are insufficient to resolve the ongoing debate over fuel supply, licensing, and pricing in Nigeria.

Speaking on Wednesday during an appearance on a Trust TV show, Gillis-Harry emphasised that empirical evidence, rather than rhetoric, should guide discussions about the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the downstream petroleum sector.

“You cannot judge the NMDPRA by just what Dangote says. Dangote should back his words with action. Talk is cheaper than truth, and the only way truth can be established is by empirical evidence,” he said.

Dangote had accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of economic sabotage and regulatory missteps, alleging that the regulator was issuing “reckless licences” for the importation of petroleum products despite Nigeria’s growing local refining capacity and that it was misrepresenting production data by reporting only offtake figures rather than actual output from the Dangote Refinery.

Dangote had called for an investigation and prosecution of former NMDPRA’s CEO, Farouk Ahmed, over alleged corruption and questionable financial conduct, and has challenged the regulator to work with stakeholders and verify the refinery’s production independently.

Gillis-Harry, however, noted that supply challenges in the consumer market were real and that the issue of licences arises primarily due to shortfalls.

“If I have one billion litres of petrol, I will make sure I discuss with people that import and liaise with them amicably. The licence is only the issue because there is a shortfall in the consumer market,” Gillis-Harry said.

The PETROAN president also challenged claims that local production alone could immediately meet national demand.

“The man who says he has all the products should work with the stakeholders to buy the products from him. Let us see how many hours it takes to deliver,” he said, adding that PETROAN members currently source petroleum products from multiple suppliers, including Dangote.

“We are buying from Dangote and we are buying from others too. We have all it takes to finish his product.”

However, he raised concerns about arbitrary pricing in the sector, warning that unilateral price-setting could distort the market and threaten business sustainability.

“My concern now is that one individual arbitrarily fixes prices the way he or she wants. That pricing does not reflect the market and it doesn’t reflect a business that is progressive, because if you’re buying today at ₦200, how many days can that be sustained?”

While affirming willingness to purchase products at competitive rates, Gillis-Harry stressed that abrupt price changes without prior notice could negatively impact marketers who already hold stock bought at higher rates.

“We are happy to buy from Dangote at a cheaper price, but he should have informed us. What happens to products that we have bought before that one?”