The Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria has appealed for calm in the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, warning that rivalry could derail Nigeria’s refining progress.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday and signed by its Chairman, Momoh Oyarekhua, obtained by PUNCH Online on Friday, the association urged both sides to prioritise national interest over personal or corporate rivalry.
The clash between the two industry giants stems from disagreements over pricing, product supply, and market structure.
DAPPMAN has raised fears about fair competition and supply arrangements, while Dangote Refinery maintains that domestic refining should be allowed to stabilise without undue interference.
CORAN expressed concern that the public exchanges have escalated tensions and risked polarising the downstream sector.
“The Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) notes with concern the ongoing bickering between the Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
“While disagreements are expected in a competitive market, the current rift risks distracting the nation from a more urgent reality: Nigeria is on the cusp of a refining revolution that must not be stifled by primordial sentiments or vested interests,” the statement partly read.
Highlighting Nigeria’s past reliance on fuel imports, despite being a top crude oil producer, the association noted that the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery and several modular refineries marks a turning point for the nation’s energy landscape.
“This moment represents the foundation of a new economic windfall for Nigeria. It is, however, important for stakeholders, especially DAPPMAN members and tank farm operators, to recognise the fundamental changes in the energy value chain… CORAN urges tank farm owners and marketers to embrace collaboration with local refineries to ensure their continued relevance in the new era”, the statement continued.
The association stressed that marketers remain critical to refining success since refineries rely on efficient product evacuation, storage, and retail distribution.
It credited DAPPMAN with sustaining fuel supply during decades of import dependence while noting that indigenous refiners and the Dangote plant now represent a strategic shift toward self-sufficiency and forex savings.
“At the same time, the Dangote Refinery and indigenous refiners represent a strategic shift toward self-sufficiency, reduced forex pressure, and job creation. Both sides have made sacrifices in the national interest; both deserve acknowledgement.
“What Nigeria cannot afford is for either side’s vested interest to derail the refining renaissance now unfolding. The path forward is clear: collaboration, not confrontation,” CORAN’s statement added.
The group further emphasised that synergy between refineries and marketers would stabilise prices and secure energy access for Nigerians.
“Refineries need marketers, and marketers need domestic supply. Together, this synergy can drive efficiency, stabilise prices, and deliver affordable energy to Nigerians. CORAN therefore calls for dialogue, cooperation, and integration across the downstream value chain to ensure no stakeholder is left behind.
“Nigeria cannot afford to miss this historic opportunity. The refining sector must be nurtured as the engine of economic transformation—not suffocated on the altar of rivalry”, it stated.
Oyarekhua, in his remarks, reinforced the need for restraint and partnership, stating, “This is not the time for rivalry but for reinvention and collaboration. Refineries need marketers, and marketers need domestic supply. Our refining renaissance is too important to be derailed by division.
“If we work together, Nigeria will stabilise prices, reduce forex dependence, create jobs, and deliver affordable energy. But if we allow conflict to fester, we risk suffocating this opportunity before it fully blossoms.”
punch
