The decision of operators of Dangote Refinery to go into distribution of its products to end users, which doesn’t sit well with those in oil product transportation has excited reaction from a senior official of the company.
In its quest to eliminate logistics costs, the refinery recently took delivery of 4,000 new CNG-powered trucks for its fuel distribution initiative, scheduled to be launched on August 15.
The initiative has divided opinions, with the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria among those displeased with it, alleging that it would birth monopoly and drive many people into logistics and depot owners out of business.
The pushback has provoked reaction from Dangote Group as per Punchng which quoted a senior official in the company as saying: “Why would they want to disrupt? Somebody wants to distribute fuel for free (without the cost of logistics). We are not asking for money. We are saying part of the reason why PMS is expensive is because of the logistics, and we are removing the cost. We are removing that money. So, why are they angry? Why the disruption, if not anti-Nigeria? They hate Nigeria; they don’t want this country to prosper.
“If someone wants to do something free, we are not asking for money. We are not saying, once we use our truck to supply you with PMS, you are going to pay us money. Why are you angry that an individual, a private sector person, wants to do that? Why are you angry? Why are you pained? And is this market not big enough for everybody to survive?
“Okay, we are starting with 4,000 trucks. There are 774 Local Governments in Nigeria. Can the 4,000 trucks really go around the 774 LGs? No. Why are we deceiving ourselves? Why are we anti-Nigeria? Why don’t we want this country to progress and develop? Absolutely, I don’t see any need for them to go on strike. Nobody’s threatening anybody. Nobody’s interested in a monopoly. This country can thrive with everybody doing their business. Dangote is not saying, ‘don’t do your business.”
