Dangote Group Denies Allegations of Cheaper Petrol Sales in Togo Amid Pricing Dispute with Nigerian Marketers
The Dangote Group has firmly denied accusations that its multibillion-dollar refinery in Nigeria sells petrol to international traders in Togo at cheaper rates than it offers to Nigerian marketers. The company’s rebuttal follows claims by the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) that its members are forced to buy Dangote’s petrol through third parties in Lomé at prices up to ₦65 less per litre.
DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, alleged in a recent interview that attempts by local marketers to purchase petrol directly from the refinery had proved costlier than buying through intermediaries abroad. He said some marketers even import the product back into Nigeria because of the price difference, calling the situation “uneconomical” for domestic operators.
In a statement on Monday, the Dangote Group described the allegations as “misleading and inaccurate,” pointing out that petrol pump prices in Togo are significantly higher than in Nigeria. According to the company, the average pump price in Lomé is about 680 CFA francs per litre—equivalent to ₦1,826—more than double Nigeria’s average price of ₦865 per litre. Dangote said its refinery remains the primary source of affordable petrol feedstock for West Africa despite importing over 60 percent of its crude oil.
The group also accused some marketers of “round-tripping”—buying petrol produced in Nigeria, routing it through Togo, and then re-importing it at inflated prices. Dangote argued that if marketers were truly committed to serving Nigeria’s domestic market, they would partner directly with the refinery. The company stressed that its local partners already benefit from volume discounts, credit facilities, and logistics support aimed at keeping fuel affordable nationwide.
The dispute underscores growing tensions between Nigeria’s largest private refinery and petroleum marketers as the government and industry struggle to stabilise fuel prices. While DAPPMAN insists Nigerian marketers face unfair pricing, Dangote maintains that its operations position Nigeria as West Africa’s most affordable fuel hub. Industry analysts warn that resolving the standoff will be essential to ensuring steady fuel supplies, protecting consumers, and strengthening energy security in Africa’s largest oil-producing nation.
source: punch