NOGASA warns of job losses, urges Tinubu to halt Dangote’s direct fuel distribution

|By Adejumo Adekunle

…Refinery risks collapse like NNPCL-managed plants, says association
…Dangote defends strategy, rolls out 4,000 new tankers

The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and stop Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, from pushing ahead with his refinery’s plan to directly distribute petrol and diesel across the country.

Speaking during the association’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday in Abuja, NOGASA National President, Bennett Okorie, said the proposed direct distribution of petroleum products by Dangote Refinery could trigger mass job losses and severely disrupt the downstream oil sector.

“If Dangote Refinery follows that path and comes August 15, 2025, as projected, the $20 billion refinery may end up like the government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri,” Okorie warned. “We are pleading that Mr. President should intervene in this matter by telling Dangote to slow down and go by the rules of the game. Nobody is against the refinery.”

He explained that a similar move by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) contributed to the collapse of state-run refineries after it began distributing fuel directly through its own filling stations.

“Before now, NNPC refined and distributed products through subsidiaries and everything moved smoothly,” he recalled. “It wasn’t bad until they were advised to go into direct retail. That was the turning point for the refineries. We don’t want Dangote to fall into the same trap.”

But in a swift response, Dangote Refinery dismissed NOGASA’s fears as misplaced.

The refinery confirmed that it has already commenced distribution of petrol to customers nationwide and has acquired 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered tankers to support its supply chain network.

Despite growing concerns, Dangote insists the distribution scheme is part of efforts to ensure fuel availability and efficiency in the supply system across Nigeria.