LAGOS — The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially halted direct sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to major petroleum marketing companies that continue to import fuel into the country.
Refinery officials confirmed on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, that the decision follows ongoing concerns that imported, off-spec, or lower-grade petroleum products are being blended with high-grade fuel supplied from the mega-refinery.
The policy shift directly affects key major marketers—including entities previously granted import clearances by regulatory authorities—while prioritizing direct distribution to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and domestic distributors who rely exclusively on local refining channels.
According to industry sources, the refinery management raised alarms that blending imported fuel with Dangote’s refined output compromises fuel quality standards and undermines market transparency.
The move has drawn reactions across the downstream sector. While independent marketers welcomed the prioritization of domestic supply chains, affected importing entities questioned the restriction, arguing that legal import licenses issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) should not restrict access to local refining off-take.
The development marks an escalation in the ongoing friction between domestic refining capacity and foreign fuel importation, as stakeholders debate market protectionism and pricing mechanisms in Nigeria’s deregulated oil sector.
