The National Welfare Officer of IPMAN, John Kekeocha, is questioning the celebration of the Dangote Refinery that is now giving Nigerians nightmare.Â
He is of the opinion that if imported petrol is cheaper, there’s little reason for excitement.
John Kekeocha is the National Welfare Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
And he is strongly wondering what the justification for the excitement surrounding the Dangote Refinery is.
In a recent interview with Channels TV, he raised a crucial question.
Why should Nigerians celebrate the refinery if the cost of its petrol is higher than imported alternatives? he asked.
Kekeocha believes that local production should have a clear advantage.
Since Dangote’s refinery is based in Nigeria, the cost of logistics should be lower.
This should make its products cheaper than the petrol imported by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
However, he pointed out that this isn’t the case. “If the petrol we are importing from abroad is cheaper, then why are we celebrating the Dangote Refinery?” he asked.
Currently, petrol prices in Nigeria stand at around ₦950 per liter.
Kekeocha believes that the high price shows that the government has stopped subsidising fuel, worsening life for many Nigerians.
Read Also;Â Real Reason Dangote Refinery Fuel Is White
However, he emphasised that for the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to drop, the government must step in.
Government’s Role in Pricing
Kekeocha explained that before now, the price of imported petrol in Nigeria ranged between ₦400 and ₦619 per liter.
The government had been quietly working behind the scenes to keep prices lower for Nigerians.
“It means that the government was getting it at a higher price and then selling it to Nigerians at a lower rate,” he said.
But with the current price of ₦950, the picture has changed.
Kekeocha stressed that the government needed to intervene now more than ever.
Furthermore, he urged the government to lower the price of petrol, whether produced by Dangote or imported by the NNPC.
In his view, celebrating the Dangote Refinery is only meaningful if it translates to cheaper fuel for Nigerians.
Without government subsidies or other support to reduce costs, he believes the celebration is premature.
