The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged its members to increase their patronage of locally refined petroleum products, saying greater domestic sourcing would strengthen fuel supply and help stabilise pump prices.
The association also called on the Federal Government to adopt stricter measures to discourage the continued importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
IPMAN National President, Abubakar Shettima, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, saying reliance on domestic refineries would reduce the costs associated with importing petroleum products while strengthening Nigeria’s energy security.
“As an association that controls over 80 percent of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum retail infrastructure, operating more than 150,000 retail outlets across the nation, we recognise the strategic importance of this development,” Shettima said.
He said increased patronage of domestic refineries would eliminate expenses linked to freight and port charges, create jobs and accelerate Nigeria’s drive towards energy independence.
Shettima also urged independent petroleum marketers to consider investing directly in local refining projects, arguing that such investments would allow them to expand beyond their traditional role as petroleum product off-takers.
He described investments in domestic refining as a patriotic responsibility and encouraged marketers to become equity owners in primary production infrastructure.
According to him, stronger participation by independent marketers in local refining would improve their capacity to distribute petroleum products affordably and consistently across the 36 states while supporting greater stability in pump prices.
Shettima further said the growing operational capacity of the Dangote Refinery would help meet Nigeria’s domestic energy needs and reduce pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
“IPMAN believes that investment in the Dangote Refinery is a direct stake in the energy security and economic sovereignty of Nigeria,” he said.
The IPMAN president, however, appealed to the management of the Dangote Refinery to sustain its direct allocation of PMS to independent petroleum marketers.
He urged the refinery to expand the arrangement to cover all registered independent marketers nationwide, rather than restricting access or stopping supplies through certain distribution channels.
Shettima also called on the Federal Government to implement stringent measures to curb the continued importation of PMS, warning that sustained dependence on imported fuel could increase pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves and undermine the growth of local industries.
He maintained that strengthening domestic refining capacity and ensuring wider access to locally produced petroleum products would help create a more stable downstream sector while improving Nigeria’s overall energy security.
