The Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has appealed for calm in the escalating dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), warning that rivalry could undermine Nigeria’s push toward refining self-sufficiency.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Chairman, Momoh Oyarekhua, the association urged both sides to place national interest above corporate or personal considerations.
The clash between the two industry heavyweights stems from disagreements over pricing, product supply, and market structure. While DAPPMAN has raised concerns about fair competition and supply arrangements, Dangote Refinery insists that domestic refining must be given room to stabilise without what it considers undue interference.
CORAN, however, cautioned that the public exchanges have heightened tensions and risk polarising the downstream sector.
“While disagreements are expected in a competitive market, the current rift risks distracting the nation from a more urgent reality: Nigeria is on the cusp of a refining revolution that must not be stifled by primordial sentiments or vested interests,” the statement read in part.
Highlighting Nigeria’s decades-long dependence on fuel imports despite being a major crude oil producer, CORAN said the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery alongside several modular refineries marks a turning point for the country’s energy sector.
“This moment represents the foundation of a new economic windfall for Nigeria. It is, however, important for stakeholders, especially DAPPMAN members and tank farm operators, to recognise the fundamental changes in the energy value chain… CORAN urges tank farm owners and marketers to embrace collaboration with local refineries to ensure their continued relevance in the new era,” the group stated.
The association stressed that marketers remain indispensable to refining success, since efficient product evacuation, storage, and retail distribution are critical to operations.
It credited DAPPMAN with sustaining fuel supply during the years of heavy import dependence, while noting that the Dangote plant and indigenous refiners represent a strategic shift towards self-sufficiency, foreign exchange savings, and job creation.
“At the same time, the Dangote Refinery and indigenous refiners represent a strategic shift toward self-sufficiency, reduced forex pressure, and job creation. Both sides have made sacrifices in the national interest; both deserve acknowledgement. What Nigeria cannot afford is for either side’s vested interest to derail the refining renaissance now unfolding,” the statement added.
CORAN emphasised that synergy between refiners and marketers would help stabilise pump prices and guarantee energy access for Nigerians.
“Refineries need marketers, and marketers need domestic supply. Together, this synergy can drive efficiency, stabilise prices, and deliver affordable energy to Nigerians. Nigeria cannot afford to miss this historic opportunity. The refining sector must be nurtured as the engine of economic transformation—not suffocated on the altar of rivalry,” the association warned.
Reinforcing the call for restraint, Oyarekhua said: “This is not the time for rivalry but for reinvention and collaboration. If we work together, Nigeria will stabilise prices, reduce forex dependence, create jobs, and deliver affordable energy. But if we allow conflict to fester, we risk suffocating this opportunity before it fully blossoms.”
