The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the commercial operations and pricing of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in a bid to reduce the rising cost of petrol across the country.
The appeal followed a fresh increase in petrol pump prices, with the product now selling between ₦1,310 and ₦1,345 per litre in Abuja and neighbouring areas.
IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi, made the call while reacting to the recent surge in petrol prices, which he attributed to upward adjustments in gantry and ex-depot prices by the Dangote Refinery and private depot operators.
Maigandi urged the Federal Government to engage domestic refiners and broker an agreement that would help bring down the cost of petrol for consumers.
He stressed that such government intervention should not be regarded as a return to the former fuel subsidy regime, but rather as a targeted measure to cushion the impact of rising energy costs.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to broker a deal with Dangote Refinery to reduce fuel prices.
“The government should intervene with Nigerian refiners, and this will lead to a reduction in fuel prices. It is different from fuel subsidy. In a situation where there is difficulty, the government should step in,” Maigandi said.
According to IPMAN, strategic government engagement with domestic refiners could help stabilise petrol prices, reduce the impact of fluctuations in international crude oil prices and ease the burden of rising energy costs on households and businesses.
The association maintained that ensuring affordable and stable petrol prices remains critical to reducing transportation and operating costs across the country.
