The Traffic

Dirty Fuel Scandal? Oil Marketers Clap Back at Dangote's Accusations"

By Achimi Muktar

In a fierce rebuttal, Nigerian oil marketers have denied accusations made by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which claimed that off-spec petrol is being imported into the country. The marketers emphasized that all imported petroleum products undergo rigorous testing and certification by both the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The drama unfolded on Tuesday when Dangote Refinery publicly condemned the importation of substandard petroleum products, claiming that deregulation of the downstream oil sector was being used as a cover for this malpractice. However, by Thursday, oil marketers, including Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, fired back with strong denials, asserting that every batch of imported petrol is thoroughly inspected.

"We Can’t Bring in Off-Spec Products"

Speaking to reporters, Robert Dickerman, Managing Director of Pinnacle Oil and Gas, debunked Dangote's claims, explaining that independent inspectors, NMDPRA, and SON all test imported petrol at various stages. "Our products are inspected, so the idea that off-spec products are being imported is completely false," Dickerman said.

An anonymous source within SON confirmed this, stating that the organization runs its own laboratory tests on all imported petrol. “We ensure that the imported products meet the regulatory standards,” the source said.

Accusations Fly as Pipelines Take Center Stage

The tension between Dangote Refinery and Pinnacle Oil escalated further when the refinery accused Pinnacle of seeking to blend substandard fuel with their high-quality products through a new pipeline project. Pinnacle, however, denied these allegations, calling them defamatory.

According to Dickerman, Pinnacle had signed a 13-year agreement with Dangote to distribute its products through pipelines, a move that was initially supported by the refinery. "It’s simply not true that they opposed it. They supported it," Dickerman emphasized, adding that the pipelines would make distribution more cost-effective compared to shipping or trucking.

NNPC Denies 'Dirty Fuel' Allegations

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has also been dragged into the controversy. A viral video claimed that dirty fuel was being sold from an NNPC retail outlet. In response, the company issued a statement, calling the claim false and misleading. “NNPC Retail does not deal in adulterated products and adheres to strict quality control measures,” said Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s spokesperson.

As the debate over petrol quality rages on, industry players and regulators alike are under increasing pressure to maintain transparency and uphold standards in the downstream oil sector. For now, all eyes remain on the regulatory bodies to ensure Nigerian consumers aren’t left with substandard fuel amid the controversy.