Following the local marketers boycott of Dangote Refinery Products, Nigerians on social media advised Aliko Dangote to establish petrol stations across the country to service consumers directly.
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, revealed in an X-space forum that despite the refinery’s efforts to offer affordable petroleum products, many Nigerian traders continue to import refined products rather than sourcing from the local refinery.
Chronicle NG reported that Edwin voiced frustration over the boycott of Dangote Refinery’s products by local marketers.
Edwin noted that despite the Dangote Refinery’s substantial production capacity, local marketers are purchasing only about 3% of its output.
“The whole purpose of doing this refinery in Nigeria was to utilize our local crude instead of exporting raw materials and importing finished products.
“We should be able to refine and use the finished products within Nigeria, as well as produce more to export the surplus,” he explained.
While speaking about the quantity of the refinery’s products sold locally, Edwin said, “I’m selling 2 to 3% to small traders who are willing to buy, while the rest, 95 to 97%, I’m forced to export.”
He suggested that some marketers are intentionally obstructing the refinery’s operations by choosing to import products rather than support local refining.
He also revealed that local marketers wrote to President Bola Tinubu to express their concerns about the refinery’s pricing strategies.
“They wrote to His Excellency, the president, claiming that we are disturbing the market by dropping our prices,” Edwin disclosed.
In response to this development, citizens presented potential solutions to the petrol supply crisis to the industrial giant.
On X, Irunnia wrote, “Dangote should build petrol stations across the country, just like NNPC.” Sell directly to the end consumers at a much cheaper price. He will swiftly capture the local market.
Lola Olawale expressed his support for Irunnia by saying, “Simply put.” His nagging is getting too much these days. Build or simply buy off some petrol stations and sell directly.
“All these stories every market day are exhausting, almost as if there’s an ulterior motive.” Someone of his calibre can’t say he didn’t anticipate some of this.
MC Agrovet quoted Irunnia, “Shikennah!! Start with my village, followed by Kano State. You will quickly lose all memory of the government.