Lagos, Nigeria | September 22, 2025
Billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Femi Otedola, has weighed in on the ongoing fuel supply dispute between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), calling on the association to embrace change and reposition itself for emerging opportunities in the downstream sector.
Otedola, in his intervention on Monday, emphasized that the entry of the Dangote Refinery had altered the landscape of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, stressing that legacy players must evolve to remain relevant. He urged DAPPMAN to collaborate with the refinery rather than resist the new dynamics, noting that the refinery’s direct-to-marketer sales would reshape supply patterns across the country.
“The Dangote Refinery represents a paradigm shift for our oil and gas industry. DAPPMAN must accept the new reality, adapt to change, and explore fresh opportunities within the evolving market structure,” Otedola stated.
His remarks come as private depots complain of reduced patronage following the refinery’s decision to supply petrol directly to marketers, bypassing traditional depot intermediaries. Industry watchers believe this could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s downstream sector, with implications for pricing, distribution, and market competition.
Otedola’s call for reform has been described by analysts as timely, as the oil and gas industry grapples with the twin challenges of global energy transition and local market restructuring.
