Oil marketers have differing views about the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s latest requirement that dealers pay in advance before removing products from the refinery in Lekki.
NNPC Group CEO Mele Kyari, along with representatives from the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, and important stakeholders from companies like 11 Plc, Matrix, AA Rano, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, recently held a high-level stakeholder meeting in Abuja where they advanced this demand to marketers.
In contrast to the conventional importation method, which settles payments as products arrive at depots, Dangote insisted on receiving payments in advance from marketers, according to sources at the conference.
Downstream operators have been at odds over the controversial matter, and talks to find a consensus are still in progress.
In separate interviews with The PUNCH, the marketers shared their opinions on the matter.
Others praised the policy, saying it is an essential measure to guarantee the refinery’s operations run smoothly and to avoid risks connected with delayed payments. In contrast, others expressed concerns about the financial hardship this rule could entail, especially for smaller enterprises.
