The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disclosed plans to reintroduce its suspended N5 per-litre fuel discount scheme for its strategic partners, after temporarily halting the initiative due to reported infractions by some participating marketers.
PUNCH Online had exclusively revealed earlier on Friday that the refinery uncovered a fresh racket involving some of its affiliate marketers and strategic partners who have been diverting subsidised refined petroleum products for profit, prompting the suspension of the refinery’s discounted fuel supply scheme.
The rebate designed to support Dangote’s registered affiliate marketers in achieving stable profit margins amid price competition from fuel importers, while also guaranteeing nationwide availability of the refinery’s products, was paused on July 13 following allegations of diversion and abuse of authority by certain dealers.
This allowed them to cash in on the price differential without incurring legitimate costs associated with logistics, retail station operations, or administrative compliance, making a fast profit.
A letter to all strategic partners issued on July 13, 2025, signed by the Group Executive Director-Commercial Operations, Fatima Dangote, disclosed that some marketers were reselling petroleum products directly from the tarmac at rates below the official gantry price.
The refinery noted that the diverted products were often sold at market rates far above the agreed subsidised prices, effectively undermining the core objectives of the scheme and distorting the downstream market.
Miffed by this situation, the refinery directed the suspension of its discount scheme for its customers with effect from July 13, 2025.
The letter titled, “Suspension of the Strategic Partner Discounted Price”, read, “In our drive to ensure the distribution and retail sale of DPRP refined petroleum products across your service stations nationwide, DPRP commenced the strategic partnership scheme with the sole aim of ensuring consumers nationwide have access to affordable and clean petroleum products.
“Unfortunately, over the last few months, DPRP has been receiving unprecedented complaints of Strategic Partners (Partners) selling their ATCs at the refinery (Tarmac) below the prevailing PMS gantry product price.
“Whilst we have engaged partners severally on this, it has become evident that this has become an area of grave concern to DPRP as it affects the sustainability of our gantry operations.
“To this end, DPRP Management is suspending the discounted price offered to partners effective 13th July 2025 and working towards restructuring the scheme.”
However, in a fresh update, a senior official of the refinery, who requested anonymity, said the scheme would be reintroduced very soon.
The official noted that the refinery is working to ensure that the new scheme will be in a more transparent and structured format.
“The partnership is still on. It’s just the N5 discount we suspended for now but we are coming up with another one soon,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the suspension of the discount scheme by the refinery has triggered widespread reactions on X (formerly Twitter), with Nigerians expressing mixed views on the development.
While some users commended the refinery’s swift response to curtail reported infractions by affiliate marketers, others lamented the impact on already-strained fuel consumers and raised concerns about entrenched corruption in the country, both in the public and private sectors.
Reacting to the suspension, an X user #TitiSanni applauded the private sector-led initiative, stating that such accountability is rare in government-run systems.
“This is the power of a private sector-led economy. Things start to go wrong, they track it swiftly and deal with it.
“If it was govt, I bet the officials would cut a deal and close their eyes. God bless Aliko,” Sanni said.
Another user, #12CanCode, criticised Nigerians who turned the scheme into a profit-grab opportunity through fraudulent means.
“Nigerians will always find a way to introduce fraud in everything and call it smart,” the user said.
The sentiment was echoed by @Tobego_Tobego, who called for self-reflection and accountability at the individual level.
“How are we only blaming the government for corruption when individuals can’t do the right things?”
Some users questioned the motives behind the suspension and accused the refinery of prioritising profits over public good.
“Instead of helping ease the burden on consumers, these actions likely contributed to artificial scarcity, price hikes, and growing frustration at the pump. It’s a classic case of profit being prioritised over public good,” wrote #BuzzNaija.
