In a major industry twist, Nigerian Stories took to its official X (formerly Twitter) handle to announce breaking news that oil marketers have filed a lawsuit against Dangote Group, challenging what they describe as an emerging monopoly in Nigeria’s oil industry. The marketers are pressing for the continuation of petrol imports, a move they argue is essential to prevent the nation from being solely reliant on the Dangote Refinery.
The lawsuit comes amid the Nigerian government’s recent push for self-sufficiency in fuel production, with the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery positioned as a cornerstone of this vision. However, oil marketers argue that an outright ban on fuel imports, which could effectively centralize supply within Dangote’s operations, may trigger supply issues and potential price increases due to the lack of market competition.
According to the oil marketers, ensuring multiple sources of petrol supply is crucial for Nigeria’s economic stability. They claim that solely depending on Dangote’s refinery would lead to a monopoly that could stifle competition, drive up prices, and create a dependency on one private entity for the country’s entire petrol demand.
The marketers are urging the government and the courts to maintain an open market policy that includes imported fuel, allowing multiple players to operate and reducing the risks associated with a single supply source.
While the Dangote Group has yet to issue an official response, the lawsuit highlights the intensifying debate over Nigeria’s approach to fuel self-sufficiency and the role of private sector giants in achieving it.
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