Dangote Calls for Fuel Import Ban, Oil Marketers Object.

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged President Bola Tinubu to extend the ‘Nigeria First’ policy to refined petroleum products, a proposal that met stiff resistance from oil marketers and industry experts on Sunday.
Speaking at the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets held in Abuja, Dangote called for the ban on the importation of petrol, diesel, and other refined petroleum products, arguing that continued imports were crippling local refining efforts and threatening investments in the sector.

The Nigeria First policy, introduced in May 2024, prohibits government ministries, departments, and agencies from importing goods or services that are already available within the country. The policy mandates that no foreign procurement should proceed without a valid justification and a waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Citing this policy, Dangote argued that the same principle should be used to protect local refiners, such as his recently commissioned Dangote Refinery, from the influx of cheaper imported fuels.

He further claimed that imported fuels, including toxic blends banned in Europe, were being dumped in Nigeria, giving importers an unfair edge and undermining safety and quality standards.

Dangote has criticized the importation of Russian-subsidized fuel or crude oil, which has led to lower local prices and reduced refiners’ costs.
The price caps on Russian petroleum products have led to discounted products reaching Africa, undercutting local production. This unfair competition has resulted in petrol and diesel prices being just 60 cents cheaper in Nigeria, even cheaper than Saudi Arabia, which produces and refines its own oil.
Dangote urges African governments to take measures similar to the US, Canada, and the EU to protect domestic producers from unfair competition.
Nigeria’s richest man Dangote, has emphasized the importance of local investments in the country, stating that those with the resources to invest in Nigeria are often taking their resources out of the country while criticising local investors.
He revealed that Nigeria has become a net exporter of petroleum products, exporting approximately 1.35 billion litres of petrol to other countries worldwide in 50 days. Between June and July 2025, the refinery exported up to 1 million tonnes of petrol, equivalent to 1.35 billion litres when converted. Dangote emphasized that Nigeria has become a net exporter of refined products.

Marketers in Nigeria have criticized the Federal Government for considering adding petroleum products to the list of items banned from importation.
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, stated that independent marketers would not support the idea, as it would spell doom for the sector. He argued that allowing importation would not kill businesses or local refineries but strengthen them. National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, also opposed the call to ban fuel importation, stating that no one company should dominate the downstream sector in a free economy. Gillis-Harry emphasized that Nigeria requires multiple sources of energy.

Source: naijanews.com

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