The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has advised the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to register directly with it and get fuel instead of making payments for its petroleum products to third-party entities.
IPMAN allegation of its members’ inability to load petrol from the Dangote Refinery in Lagos despite having paid ₦40bn to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is described as needless propaganda.
The Dangote Refinery in a statement titled ‘IPMAN: Setting the Record Straight’ by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, on Thursday clarified that it had not received any payments from IPMAN to purchase refined petroleum products.
It stated that although discussions were ongoing with IPMAN, it was misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN Members) were experiencing difficulties loading refined products from its Petroleum Refinery, as they currently have no direct business dealings with IPMAN.
Consequently, the company said it cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities, as the payment mentioned had been made through NNPCL, and not Dangote Refinery.
It added that in the same vein, NNPCL has neither approved nor authorised the company to release its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol to IPMAN.
The statement reads in parts;
“Although discussions are ongoing with IPMAN, it is misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN Members) are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from our Petroleum Refinery, as we currently have no direct business dealings with them.
“We advise IPMAN to register with us and make direct payment as we have more than enough petroleum products to satisfy the needs of their members.
“Furthermore, we believe it is instructive for all stakeholders to refrain from making unfounded statements in the media, as that could undermine the economic re-engineering efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Conducting business through public speculation is counterproductive and unpatriotic. In the interest of our country, we encourage all stakeholders to collaborate and heed the advice of President Tinubu, while promoting a unified approach, rather than engaging in media conflicts and needless propaganda”.
