The Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee for the sale of crude oil to local refineries in Naira, Dr Zacch Adedeji, has confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will lift petrol from Dangote Refinery on Sunday.
Adedeji made this disclosure while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that petrol will only be sold to NNPC Ltd and that the company will then sell to various marketers for now.
He said: “Arrangements have been put in place and the loading of the first batch Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS) from Dangote as already announced by NNPC would commence on Sunday 15 September 2024.
“From 1st of October, NNPC will commence the supply of crude oil to Dangote to be paid for, in naira. In return, Dangote refinery will supply PMS and diesel of equivalent value to the domestic market to be paid for in naira. Diesel will be sold in naira to any interested off taker.
“PMS will only be sold to NNPC. NNPC will then sell to various marketers for now. All associated regulatory costs, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and all other regulatory or stakeholders that are associated with this transactions will also be paid in naira.”
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had inaugurated the Committee in his office in Abuja a few weeks ago.
Members of the committee included: the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji as well as representatives from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Afrexim Bank, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Earlier today, there was controversy whether marketers will start lifting petrol on Sunday from the about $20bn worth 650,000 barrels per day capacity Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical at Free Zone, Lekki, Lagos.
Sources who spoke to New Telegraph on Friday had divergent versions on the issue.
Recall that the Executive Vice President of Downstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Adedapo Segun, during a live television programme on September 5, 2024, said NNPC Ltd would lift Dangote petrol on September 15.
A report had surfaced that marketers would lift petrol from Dangote Refinery on Sunday.
In an interview with New Telegraph on Friday, the Chief Executive and Executive Secretary, Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Mr. Clement Isong, said the association was hopeful of the commencement of petrol lifting from Dangote from Sunday.
He said: “We are hopeful that that will happen. Yes. We are talking with them. We are working with them. Yes!”
But the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, (DIL) Anthony Chiejina, told New Telegraph that he did not know whether marketers would lift petrol or not from the refinery on Sunday.
He said: “I do not know. You people should allow someone to rest. Because all of you have seen September 15, you are now speculating. What kind of nonsense is that? Because a medium has reported it, and so you would join the medium to report?
Also the National Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Chinedu Ukadike, said he had not received information of commencement of petrol lifting by marketers from Sunday at the refinery.
He said: “We have not received such information from the National President of IPMAN. And as the National Publicity Secretary, if there is such a statement, the President will inform me and I will issue it.
“But I also believe that the best choice for Dangote is to deal with independent marketers who have majority of filling stations and wide spread of the filling stations in all the nooks and crannies of this country.”
