Chukwu David 
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), have vehemently frowned against what they considered as monopoly in the petroleum Industry in Nigeria.
This opposition is coming in the face of seeming feud between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote refinery, over operational procedures and space.
The National leadership of the two bodies, in their separate presentations to the Senate Ad- hoc Committee, probing alleged economic sabotage in the Petroleum sector, warned that monopoly in the Industry, would not only run contrary to liberalization provided for by the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) but subject Nigerians to the whims and caprices of a firm or monopolistic investor.
The National President of IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Shettima, in his speech, told the Senator Opeyemi Bamidele-led Committee that “The current value chain in the downstream should be sustained to allow other investors to participate.”
He noted that NNPCL was doing its best but should endeavour to improve on supply of products to retail outlets across the country to end the incessant queue at filling stations.
Expressing similar view, the National Chairman of DAPMAN, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliyu, said that monopoly kills business and should not be allowed in the Petroleum sector.
According him, the N133 billion profit on Sugar sales within the first six months of the year, declared by Dangote, was a fall out of monopoly allowed in the business.
“Investors like Dangote are no doubt , needed in sectors of interest but level playing field should be provided for others to thrive as well by concerned regulatory agencies”, he said.
However, representative of Dangote at the interactive session, Aliyu Suleiman, said that the firm had never driven any other competitor out of business and not aiming at that, in the Petroleum sector since Nigeria runs a free market economy, guided by relevant laws like the PIA.
Suleiman disclosed that out of the 5 million crude oil they got in recent time, NNPCL gave them 60%, 20% imported and 20% purchased.
He commended the NNPCL for making the huge supply to Dangote but added that the refinery was a baby that should be supported by all relevant stakeholders to grow and not die.
