As the September 15 deadline approaches for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to start lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery, there is growing uncertainty about whether this will happen as scheduled.
Investigations reveal that both NNPC and Dangote Refinery have not yet reached a commercial agreement on the quantity and pricing of the petrol to be lifted, casting doubt on the initial plan.
NNPC’s Executive Vice President of Downstream, Adedapo Segun, had earlier announced that the NNPC would begin lifting petrol from Dangote Refinery on September 15.
He noted that factors such as foreign exchange rates and market forces would determine the cost of the petrol, emphasizing that the market has been deregulated.
However, recent information suggests that no formal agreement or paperwork has been finalized between the two parties.
A senior official from Dangote Refinery, speaking anonymously with PUNCH, confirmed that no discussions on pricing or other commercial terms had been concluded with NNPC or the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The official stated, “Right now, no documentation from NNPC and NMDPRA on product lifting. Nobody has spoken to us that they want to pick up PMS on September 15.”
Another source from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources corroborated this, noting that although discussions are ongoing, nothing concrete has been agreed upon regarding the lifting of petrol by NNPC from Dangote Refinery.
Industry expert Mr. Dan Kunle has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, stressing that the ongoing delays could worsen the socioeconomic crisis in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, has not yet responded to inquiries on the matter.
