Determining petrol price not our duty but responsibility of govt – Dangote
*Debunks media report about NNPC lifting its PMS *As it says petrol market strictly regulated *Dr. Diala sends caution to company, asks it to announce its own price to Nigerians *But why is govt still regulating petrol market despite deregulation, subsidy removal – Respondent *Says it will be unacceptable to put self-made success of Dangote under government system that never allowed local refineries to work for decades
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Amidst widespread jubilation and celebrations over the Dangote Refinery success as it commenced production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly called petrol, in the country, a particular media report said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had started lifting the newly refined product and selling same for N897 per litre to the nation’s public.
But in a swift reaction, the Dangote Group said it is not true as, according to it, “NNPC yet to lift our petrol”.
In a statement signed by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, dated 04 September 2024, the media report was described as misleading as the company urged the public to disregard the headline that, according to it, does not represent the true position in this matter.
Dangote, however, guaranteed Nigerians of exceptionally high quality petroleum products that would be readily available to all over the country, it is arrangement with government is perfected.
“Our attention has been drawn to a headline “NNPC lifts Dangote Petrol, sells at N897 per litre” published in the BusinessDay Newspapers of Wednesday, 4 September 2024.
“We would like to state that NNPC has not commenced lifting of refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from our Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
“Therefore, the issue of fixing the price of petrol lifted from our refinery does not arise, as we are yet to finalise our contract with NNPC. The PMS market is strictly regulated, which is known to all oil marketers and stakeholders in the sector, hence we can not determine, for, or influence the product price, which falls under the purview of relevant government authorities,” the statement said.
In the meantime, a public commentator and analyst, Dr. Uche Diala, has sent a word of caution to the proprietor of the refinery company in a post via his verified Facebook social media network Thursday night.
He said, “Alhaji Aliko Dangote, See Caution! Take Caution!” He continued, “Fix the price of your PMS and publicly announce it to Nigerians. Allow whoever meets your distribution requirements to come and buy, lift and re-sell.”
Another respondent queried the idea of government-controlled NNPCL “forcing Dangote into alliance of any kind with the same system that only yesterday tried hard to destroy him and his refinery calling him producer of substandard products.”
He added, “But why is this government still regulating petrol market despite deregulation and subsidy removal? I mean it will be unacceptable to put the self-made success of Dangote Refinery under the same government system that never allowed local refineries to work for decades not even it was publicly seen recently for its effort to kill the success from seeing the light of the day,” the angry Nigerian reacted.
