Fuel Hike: Marketers Accuses Dangote Refinery of Operating Secret Petrol Pricing

Nigeria's petroleum marketers have raised concerns over the pricing strategy of the Dangote Refinery, accusing it of maintaining a "secret petrol price regime." This issue was highlighted by Billy Gillis-Harris, the president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), during an interview with Channels Television.

The controversy arises amidst a huge hike in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which has increased the pump price to N1,030 per litre in Abuja.

Gillis-Harris emphasized the need for transparency from the Dangote Refinery, urging it to disclose its pricing structure and engage with stakeholders.

He stated, “Regarding Dangote price, as I speak to you this morning, I don’t know what Dangote price is all about and that is speaking a lot because, at this point in the Dangote campaign in Nigeria, retail outlets like us should know the price input of Dangote but they have kept that shrouded in secrecy up until now.” He further noted that while the NNPCL provided a price template, it did not clarify the contribution of Dangote Refinery to the pricing.

The lack of clarity has led to calls for the refinery to open communication channels and involve various stakeholders, including retail outlet owners and consumers, to ensure business transparency. Despite the opacity surrounding petrol pricing, Gillis-Harris acknowledged that the refinery has been transparent about its diesel prices, which many marketers patronize.

Economist Emmanuel Kelvin offered insight into the situation, explaining that the refinery has not fully disclosed its petrol prices due to the product not being entirely deregulated.