Fuel Prices May Drop – IPMAN Applauds Dangote’s Free Distribution Move

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has welcomed the Dangote Refinery’s new initiative to distribute petrol and diesel to marketers across the country at no extra delivery cost.

Speaking during a Friday appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, commended Aliko Dangote for identifying critical challenges in the oil sector and taking proactive steps to resolve them.

Ukadike noted that the plan, which includes free fuel delivery using 4,000 newly procured Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tankers from August 15, will significantly reduce the financial strain on marketers and bring fuel closer to end users.

He emphasized the continued neglect of Nigeria’s pipeline infrastructure and said marketers have long borne the high cost of transporting fuel from coastal tank farms inland. Dangote’s plan, he argued, removes that logistical burden.

“This is a major relief. It means fuel will be cheaper and more accessible. Dangote has lifted a huge load off independent marketers,” Ukadike stated.

However, the announcement has drawn opposition from some oil marketers, including the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), who argue that the plan threatens existing supply agreements with major corporations.

IPMAN dismissed those fears, insisting that Dangote, as a private refinery operator, is free to implement more efficient supply strategies to benefit the sector.

The Dangote Refinery officially announced the new nationwide distribution policy last Sunday, confirming that the launch is scheduled for August 15, 2025.