Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has refuted claims that its members demanded an annual subsidy of ₦1.5 trillion from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Nkem Ohia, spokesperson of DAPPMAN, said the association was surprised by the allegation.
Ohia said, “We don’t know where he arrived at that. Because the key thing here is he alleges and it’s for him to establish and prove. Far from it, we are not asking for a N1.5 trillion subsidy.”
He described the claim as completely ridiculous, adding that the association was only seeking negotiations to bridge pricing differences.
Explaining DAPPMAN’s position, Ohia said, “You have wholesale, which we are angling for. That is for us to be able to pick products in bulk with vessels with a minimum capacity of 30,000 metric tons or more and sales at ex-gantry, which is like retailing.”
He noted that most refineries prefer bulk offtakers saying, “Ideally, most refineries lay more emphasis on ensuring that the bulk evacuates, whatever it is, through off takers who are able to lift massive quantities… That is not his own business model, but I’m not too sure that’s the best for him. But I can’t dictate.”
The DAPPMAN spokesperson maintained that the association is not against the refinery but is seeking inclusion.
Ohia said, “Even before he commenced production, we reached out to him to allow us to collaborate with him and be able to take products in bulk. It has been one of back and forth. Understanding has not been firmly reached.”
He added, “Instead, he prefers to work with a few select partners, which has excluded DAPPMAN. It has one or two members of DAPPMAN.”
The spokesman reiterated the association’s call for openness in the distribution of petroleum products and should be no need for selectivity that appears to control petroleum products distribution.
