Dangote Refinery has refuted claims made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that it sold fuel at N898 per litre. The refinery clarified that fuel was sold to NNPCL in dollars, not naira, and labeled the claims as misleading.
In a statement released on Sunday, Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Refinery, addressed the controversy. He criticized the statement attributed to NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, calling it an attempt to undermine the refinery’s recent achievements in tackling Nigeria’s energy shortages.
Chiejina stated that the refinery’s attention was drawn to Soneye’s assertion that Dangote Refinery was selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at N898 per litre. He dismissed this claim as a deliberate attempt to discredit the refinery’s efforts and the progress made towards solving the country’s energy challenges.
“We urge Nigerians to disregard this malicious statement,” Chiejina stated. He further explained that the official pricing of fuel will be announced by the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales to local refineries, a body appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which will begin its operations on October 1, 2024.
Chiejina emphasized that the current stock of crude oil was procured in dollars and the sales to NNPCL were conducted in the same currency. He highlighted that this approach has resulted in significant savings compared to the cost of imports, ensuring that petrol will be available in every local government area, including the most remote regions.
“The Dangote Refinery remains committed to providing high-quality petroleum products and ending the long-standing fuel scarcity in Nigeria,” Chiejina assured. This commitment aims to ensure steady supply and availability of petrol across the country, aligning with efforts to address energy shortages and stabilize fuel prices.
