The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the operations of the Dangote Refinery in a bid to reduce rising petrol prices across the country.
IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi, made the appeal in an interview with journalists on Tuesday.
His call comes amid a fresh increase in petrol prices, with the product reportedly selling for between ₦1,310 and ₦1,345 per litre in Abuja and neighbouring areas.
The latest increase followed a rise in gantry and ex-depot petrol prices by the Dangote Refinery and depot owners.
Reacting to the development, Maigandi urged the Federal Government to broker an agreement with the Dangote Refinery as part of efforts to bring down petrol prices at filling stations nationwide.
He also called for government intervention with domestic refiners, arguing that such intervention should not be interpreted as a return to the fuel subsidy regime.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to broker a deal with Dangote Refinery to reduce fuel prices.
“The government should intervene with Nigerian refiners, and this will lead to a reduction in fuel prices. It is different from fuel subsidy. In a situation where there is difficulty, the government should step in,” the IPMAN president said.
Maigandi maintained that government intervention in the downstream petroleum sector could help cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on Nigerians without necessarily reinstating the subsidy system.
He urged the Federal Government to engage relevant domestic refiners and stakeholders to explore measures that could help stabilise petrol prices and ease the burden on consumers.
