A planned nationwide rollout of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) distribution by Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been met with praise from fuel marketers and citizens alike, as anticipation grows over the potential to address Nigeria’s long-standing fuel distribution crisis.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Rivers State commended the initiative, describing it as a “game-changer” in the nation’s downstream petroleum sector. Speaking in Port Harcourt, IPMAN Chairman Mr Tekena Ikpaki said the strategy would eliminate many of the systemic obstacles currently hampering fuel availability and pricing.
The Dangote Group recently announced that it had acquired 4,000 CNG-powered trucks as part of its logistics overhaul to ensure direct delivery of PMS across Nigeria, with operations scheduled to begin on 15 August.
“This is an important shift from dependency on third-party logistics to a more direct, controlled system,” Ikpaki said. “It will reduce transportation costs and bring about more reliable fuel availability across the country.”
He called for fair regulation to ensure all marketers benefit from the initiative, noting that smaller operators have often been sidelined in a heavily centralised supply chain.
Former Shell employee Mr Chijioke Odimbu lauded the refinery’s logistics strategy but cautioned that sustained PMS production would be vital to its success.
“If the refinery cannot meet supply demands, the trucks will be redundant. Availability of the product is just as critical as its distribution,” he said.
The programme has also generated excitement at the grassroots level. Port Harcourt-based bus driver Mr Charles Ndudi said he hoped the plan would reduce fuel prices and ease the burden on transport operators.
“It’s getting harder to break even. If fuel costs go down, everything else becomes more manageable—from fares to the cost of food,” he explained.
Local trader Mrs Imelda James expressed optimism that the initiative would help stabilise the prices of foodstuffs, which are often inflated due to high transportation costs driven by fuel scarcity.
With public-private partnerships gaining momentum, the Dangote Refinery’s bold logistics initiative is being seen as a critical step toward solving Nigeria’s complex fuel distribution woes and delivering tangible economic relief to citizens.
