The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has uncovered a new fraudulent scheme involving some of its affiliate marketers and strategic partners, who were found to be diverting subsidised refined products for personal gain. This discovery has led to the suspension of the refinery’s discounted fuel supply program.
An internal investigation revealed that several marketers granted access to discounted fuel, intended to promote affordability and stable supply, were instead redirecting loaded trucks to unauthorised third-party vendors. These actions directly violated the terms of the program.
Originally, the discount scheme was launched to support registered affiliate marketers in maintaining healthy profit margins amid fierce price competition from fuel importers, while also ensuring consistent nationwide access to Dangote’s products.
However, it emerged that some marketers were allowing unregistered importers to collect products from the refinery using their official Authority To Collect (ATC) loading tickets. This enabled these third parties to profit from the price difference without bearing legitimate operational costs related to logistics, retail outlets, or regulatory compliance.
The refinery reported that the diverted products were often sold at prevailing market prices, far exceeding the subsidised rates, thereby defeating the purpose of the scheme and distorting market dynamics in the downstream sector.
In response, the refinery officially suspended the discount program effective July 13, 2025. This was communicated in a letter addressed to all strategic partners on the same date, signed by the Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations, Fatima Dangote, and obtained by our correspondent.
The management also revealed that some marketers were reselling products directly from the refinery’s premises at prices lower than the official gantry rate, an action deemed harmful to the long-term viability of its operations.
