Dangote Refinery denies petrol import claims, threatens legal action over ‘deliberate misinformation’

DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has rejected reports suggesting it imports petrol into Nigeria, saying it has traced the sources of the claims and described them as intentionally misleading.

In a statement released on Monday, the company said it would reveal the identities and motives of those behind the allegations ‘at the appropriate time,’ warning that legal steps would be taken against them.

The refinery accused the promoters of the narrative of acting in bad faith, alleging they were individuals who benefited from past ‘fraudulent financing transactions’ tied to the rehabilitation of government-owned refineries and are opposed to Nigeria ending its dependence on fuel imports.

Earlier, on February 4, the refinery’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Bird, had explained that the facility does not bring in finished petroleum products but only intermediate feedstocks required for refining.

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According to the statement, the disputed reports, linked to an international intelligence firm and circulated through newspaper advertisements, wrongly claimed that Dangote imports Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The company clarified that what it imports are intermediate streams and blending components, including high-sulphur reformates and low-RON condensates, which still require processing before they can meet fuel specifications.

“These materials are not petrol and cannot be sold as such without additional refining,” the refinery said, noting that this is a standard practice among major refineries across Europe and Asia.

It stressed that the only PMS supplied to the Nigerian market from its facility is Euro 5–compliant petrol that passes strict quality testing before distribution.

Since beginning operations, the refinery said it has helped raise fuel quality standards in Nigeria while cutting the country’s reliance on high-sulphur imported petrol.

Dangote Refinery also called on industry players and the media to exercise technical accuracy and responsibility when reporting on refining processes and petroleum supply.