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Fuel marketers in the country are demanding bulk supply of the premium motor spirit as the Dangote oil refinery is set to put an end to the monthly importation of an average of 1 billion litres in June.
This was as the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, revealed that Nigeria would end petrol imports the moment the refinery started selling the product in June.
The NBS report indicated that the country received fuel importation of 2.09 litres in January 2023, while 1.99 billion litres was imported in February of the same year. It was 2.29 billion litres in March; 1.91 billion litres in April and 2.01 billion litres in May last year.
However, it was leant that the quantity of PMS imported in June, dropped to 1.64 billion litres.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Dangote expressed optimism about transforming Africa’s energy landscape.
According to him, following the laid-down plans of the Dangote refinery, Nigeria will no longer need to import petrol starting next month.
Dangote also stated that his refinery can meet West Africa’s petrol and diesel needs, as well as the continent’s aviation fuel demand.
He said, “ Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of a litre,” he declared.
He added, “We have enough gasoline to give to at least the entire West Africa, diesel to give to West Africa and Central Africa. We have enough aviation fuel to give to the entire continent and also export some to Brazil and Mexico.
“We have started producing jet fuel, we are producing diesel, and by next month, we’ll be producing gasoline. What that will do, it will be able to take most African crudes,” Dangote told the panel.
However, Nigerians were eagerly waiting for petrol, which is the major fuel used for transportation and alternative power generators.
The National Vice President of the IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, told PUNCH that Dangote refinery can supply fuel to Nigeria and West Africa.
“We are happy about it and I believe it is possible when you consider the capacity of the refinery. Due to the capacity, I think the Dangote refinery can satisfy our needs as far as petroleum products are concerned, especially petrol. He can even satisfy other West African countries. It is good news,” Fashola stated.
“We are all waiting, we are eager for the commencement of the lifting on petroleum products from Dangote refinery, especially petrol”.
The marketer stressed that the private refinery would put an end to fuel scarcity in Nigeria as the product would no longer be imported.
Meanwhile, Nigerians are expressing mixed reactions about the refinery; while some are glad, others said they are tired of waiting.
