The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has suspended self-collection gantry sales of petroleum products at its facility, effective Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The decision was communicated in an internal mail signed by the company’s Group Commercial Operations Department and obtained on Friday. The refinery explained that the directive is aimed at promoting wider adoption of its Free Delivery Scheme for retail outlets and stopping sales to unregistered marketers, whether through direct depot purchases or indirect transactions.
According to the refinery, the move is an operational adjustment designed to improve efficiency. It urged marketers to embrace the Free Delivery Scheme, which provides direct shipments to stations, while warning that any payments made after the effective date would not be honoured.
The correspondence to partners stated: “Effective 18th September 2025, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE has placed all self-collection gantry sales on hold until further notice. All payments related to active PFIs for self-collection are also placed on hold until further notice. Any payment made after this date will not be honoured.”
The company, however, assured that its Free Delivery Scheme remains fully operational and available to both active and newly onboarded customers. It added: “We encourage all customers to register for the DPRP Free Delivery Scheme, which ensures seamless deliveries to your stations.”
Apologising for the inconvenience, management said the step was necessary to streamline operations.
The development comes amid a lingering row between the refinery, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
While NUPENG accuses Dangote of resisting unionisation of its truck drivers despite a government-brokered agreement, DAPPMAN has faulted the free delivery model, alleging that marketers are forced to rely on Dangote’s fleet at commercial rates.
Dangote, on its part, insists the scheme is intended to stabilise supply and reduce costs, accusing marketers of seeking subsidies and aiding diversion. The standoff has heightened concerns over fuel pricing, labour rights, and competition in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
The suspension of gantry sales is expected to affect independent marketers and retail owners who are yet to register for the delivery scheme and previously depended on self-collection.
The dispute deepened on Thursday, September 18, when DIP CONNECTS Online reported that Dangote reaffirmed its refusal to absorb logistics costs that marketers want shifted onto the refinery as a subsidy.
In a statement posted on Dangote Group’s official X account, titled “We Stand By Our Statement on DAPPMAN … Marketers’ ₦1.505trn Subsidy Demand”, the refinery maintained its right to defend operations against what it described as misleading reports.
Meanwhile, DAPPMAN, whose members run most of Nigeria’s privately operated depots, argued that transporting products from Dangote’s Lagos base to other regions involves significant logistics and coastal shipping expenses.
The latest confrontation between Dangote Refinery and DAPPMAN comes at a time of heightened public concern over rising fuel prices and distribution challenges.
ADEOLA KUNLE
