The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said petroleum marketers have temporarily suspended petrol loading activities at the Dangote refinery, citing uncertainty over supply and pricing.

Oyewole Akanni, the zonal chairman of IPMAN’s western zone, disclosed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), saying the situation followed the refinery’s reported suspension of petrol loading operations at its gantry.

Also read: Marketers halt fuel loading as FG, Dangote hold talks

According to Akanni, the disruption has forced some marketers to seek petrol from private depots, where products are currently being offered at higher prices.

He explained that the uncertainty surrounding future petrol prices has caused many operators to delay fresh purchases, with some filling stations temporarily closing after exhausting their existing stock.

“The non-availability of fuel at some filling stations and the closure of others are due to fluctuations in the price of lifting fuel from depots,” Akanni said.

“Since Dangote Refinery stopped selling PMS about four days ago, private depot owners have increased their prices.”

The IPMAN official said only a limited number of marketers are currently buying petrol because operators are waiting to understand whether prices will fall when loading resumes or increase further.

Despite the concerns, Akanni said there was no fuel scarcity and urged Nigerians not to engage in panic buying.

“There is no fuel scarcity, members of the public should not panic,” he said.

He, however, warned that continued uncertainty could affect pump prices if the situation persists.

Akanni said marketers were not given prior notice or a clear explanation regarding the suspension of petrol sales from the refinery.

He added that four truckloads of petrol belonging to his stations had remained at the refinery for days because loading activities had not resumed.

“I was supposed to have received four truckloads of PMS since four days ago, but that has not happened because the trucks are at the Dangote refinery, which has not been selling,” he said.

“The company is not even loading its own trucks. They are all parked there.”

The IPMAN chairman also noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) had been affected because the company also sources products from the refinery.

The development comes amid broader concerns over petrol pricing in the downstream sector, following reports that some fuel importers planned to increase depot prices from ₦1,230 per litre to ₦1,350.