Jetty, tank farm owners reject suit against Dangote
**Urge FG to cancel fresh PMS import licences
Members of the Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria (JETFON) have distanced themselves from any planned legal action by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The association also called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to stop issuing fresh licences for the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
In a communiqué issued by the Executive Secretary of JETFON, Mr Olayiwola Temitope, the group said it does not share DAPPMAN’s position on fuel importation and maintained that Nigeria’s growing local refining capacity can adequately meet domestic fuel demand.
The position follows the recent issuance of import licences by the NMDPRA covering over 600,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products.
While some marketers argue that restricting imports could create monopoly concerns, JETFON insisted that continued fuel importation undermines local investments and weakens Nigeria’s drive for energy independence.
According to the association, local refineries, especially the Dangote Refinery and emerging modular refineries, now have the capacity to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
The group warned that granting fresh import licences could discourage domestic production and reduce the economic benefits expected from local refining investments.
“Relying on foreign refined products exposes the economy to supply chain disruptions, foreign exchange pressures and continued weakness of the naira,” the statement said.
JETFON stressed that prioritising local refining would help Nigeria build a sustainable and secure fuel supply system while conserving foreign exchange reserves.
The association cited the latest April 2026 data released by the NMDPRA, which showed that Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption increased to 51.1 million litres in April from 47.3 million litres recorded in March.
According to the data, fuel importation dropped sharply by 37.3 per cent to 3.7 million litres per day in April, compared to 5.9 million litres per day in March.
The group noted that domestic refining, led mainly by the Dangote Refinery, supplied about 40.7 million litres daily to the local market, demonstrating the growing capacity of local refineries to meet national demand.
JETFON said supporting local refining would not only reduce pressure on the naira and conserve foreign exchange but also create jobs, stimulate industrial growth and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
