The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has revealed plans to venture into refinery ownership, subject to regulatory approval, as part of efforts to deepen domestic refining and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
The association also directed its members nationwide to prioritize the purchase of Premium Motor Spirit from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing the move as critical to strengthening local refining, stabilizing fuel supply and supporting ongoing reforms in the downstream petroleum sector.
The IPMAN National President, Abubakar Shettima, reiterated this during a press conference on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to recent developments in the oil and gas sector, which culminated in a change of leadership at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Shettima also revealed a growing partnership between the association and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to boost petrol supply nationwide.
He added that his expectations from the new regulatory chiefs, he said policy direction must be anchored on promoting domestic refining, discouraging fuel imports and creating a regulatory framework that enables independent marketers to invest in and operate refineries in Nigeria.
He further urged the new leadership to prioritize Nigeria’s interest in all policy decisions, stressing that the country should no longer import petroleum products that can be refined locally.
The IPMAN President has also called for policies that would enable independent marketers to own and operate refineries in Nigeria, rather than relying on fuel imports.
He said the move aligns with the association’s long-standing position that Nigeria must deepen domestic refining and completely phase out the importation of petroleum products.
He said, “Let him (new NMDPRA ACE) put Nigeria forward in all decisions that he wanted to make. Because what we are looking at is the way Nigerians cannot be importing products that we have in the country. Let him open a policy whereby the marketers, like we independent petroleum marketers, can have our refinery and refine in the country. Then going outside to be importing.
“As independent petroleum marketers, we consider the interests of the government. Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already allowed the former authority chief to go and do other things and he brings new leadership. We support what the President has done. Our advice to the new leadership is for them to think for their country.”
According to him, reducing fuel importation would attract foreign investors into Nigeria’s downstream sector, deepen value creation and strengthen the economy. “If importation reduces, those marketers operating around refineries will attract foreign investors to come into the country and invest,” he added.
Shettima also announced that Dangote Petroleum Refinery would begin the direct supply of PMS to registered IPMAN members from January 2026, including free delivery to filling stations nationwide, a development he said would further lower pump prices.
He therefore directed all IPMAN members across the country to prioritize patronage of the Dangote refinery, describing it as the most affordable source of PMS in the market.