The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has not engaged major stakeholders in the Petroleum distribution sector.

It therefore asserted Its right to purchase refined petroleum products from the cheapest available source.

This is coming hours after Dangote Petroleum Refinery revealed that the association has not made any direct payment for the purchase of refined petroleum products as there is currently “no direct business dealings with IPMAN.”

Yakubu Suleiman, National Assistant Secretary of IPMAN, stated this on Friday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme monitored in Lagos.

While calling on Dangote Refinery to change its model of engagement, Suleiman said the association cannot simply fold its hands and allow someone to monopolise the system.

Suleiman stated that Dangote seemed not to have engaged with real stakeholders, including marketers and regulators.

He claimed that, instead, Dangote is using the political class and the public to sway opinion and gain sympathy, arguing that the development is surprising.

“Like every Nigerian, IPMAN is happy for Dangote and for the refinery, which is very strategic for the country.

“But IPMAN, as a stakeholder in the industry, is very happy to work with Dangote and buy product from him. But the conditions must be right. For example, the issue of price.

“As IPMAN, Dangote is supposed to have invited us for engagement. Not only IPMAN, but all stakeholders in the oil industry, like IPMAN, MOMAN, and DAPPMAN. But unfortunately, up to this moment, there has been no engagement. It is only IPMAN that is even trying to engage him. “We went to Dangote about three to four times, seeking a meeting on how to have synergy between IPMAN and Dangote, all to no avail. Most times, he would tell us he would look for us.

“The first time, he even insisted he was going to engage only individual marketers, which is not in consonance with our principle of engagement with IPMAN as a body. We have tried to bring these issues to his attention, but unfortunately, he has not understood that.

“So it’s surprising that, in his own press conference, we heard him saying he’s calling for members to come out and load products. That is not what we do as IPMAN.

“We try to regulate and advise our members on which depots they are supposed to go to and load products. We don’t know the pricing. And remember, we are in a deregulated economy. We cannot just allow somebody to come and monopolize the entire system. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. We must go where the the price is lower, where we get profit. That is it.”

He further explained that if the members are looking for higher profit margins, some may not be in business.. He said the Refinery is new in the business and should engage key stakeholders on the way out. (Nigerian Tribune)