The management of Dangote Refinery Limited has said the company’s primary concern is how to supply its products to Nigerians and at prices they can afford; rather than maximise profit at the detriment of the citizens.

Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited stated this on Tuesday, while speaking exclusively to Nationwide Reports.

Chiejina was reacting to a statement credited to the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association (PRETOAN), which on Monday, lamented that reduction of price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), by Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL was affecting their businesses as they rely on importation.

Chiejina said with Dangote Refinery, Nigerians are now guaranteed best quality products they have ever used and can therefore bid goodbye to importation of substandard products into the country.

He told Nationwide Reports that PETROAN had no reason to complain against price deduction by Dangote, as according to him, Dangote Refinery was built by a Nigerian for Nigerians, promising that it would continue to put the interest of Nigerians first in its business considerations.

Chiejina said with Dangote Refinery, thousands of jobs have been created for the people, in addition huge taxes that the company is paying to the Federal Government, adding that the overall aim was to achieve self-sufficiency in the petroleum sector as additional contribution to the nation’s economic growth.

He challenged petrol importers to tell Nigerians how they have helped the country in the areas of foreign exchange conservation and employment as well as how much axes they are paying to the government.

Chiejina expressed surprise that some persons are still talking of fuel importation at a time when all hands should be on deck to make Nigeria self-sufficient, adding that by complaining against Dangote, the marketers have shown that they are not aware of the impending impact of ongoing economic revolution across the world, where countries without capacity to produce their energy requirements may face serious challenges.

Marketers of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol in Nigeria are not happy with Dangote refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, over their decision to reduce price of the essential product, aimed at ameliorating economic challenges facing the people.

It would be recalled that Dangote refinery has reduced price of petrol three times, first before Christmas and New Year celebrations and two times since January.

But the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association has said that petrol marketers lost billions due to the downward review of fuel prices by Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.

The association’s spokesman Joseph Obele disclosed this on Monday, saying there was a need for healthy competition and price stability within Nigeria’s petroleum downstream sector.

Last week Monday, NNPCL dropped its retail petrol price to N860 and N880 per litre from N945 and N965 in Lagos and Abuja, respectively.

NNPC’s petrol price drop followed Dangote Refinery’s retail fuel price reduction to N860 and N880 per litre across its retail partners.

The development sparked a fresh price war between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery.

Reacting to fluctuations and price instability, PETROAN recommended a six-month price stability mechanism.

“PETROAN is firmly committed to the Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum and stands firm in advocating for healthy competition, full liberalisation, and price stability in the downstream sector. We urgently urge NMDPRA to quickly swing into action to ensure fair pricing. We believe that by working together, industry stakeholders, government, and consumers can create a vibrant, competitive market that benefits everyone.

“For the average citizen, sudden spikes in fuel prices can lead to financial strain and uncertainty.”

The association stressed that the sudden downward review of prices has resulted in massive losses, with those affected counting their losses in billions of naira.

“This situation poses a significant fear for further investment in the sector, as investors are wary of unpredictable market conditions. Moreover, the threat of price fluctuations is affecting the business boom in the sector, which will definitely lead to retrenchment. This will have far-reaching consequences, including job losses and economic instability.

“To address these challenges, PETROAN proposed that regulatory authorities establish mechanisms to encourage price stability for at least six months. This approach will help reduce the uncertainty and risk associated with investments in the sector, ultimately promoting economic development and protecting the interests of consumers and Nigerians.”

According to PETROAN, they advocated for a multiplicity of supply sources, including Dangote Refinery, NNPC refineries, modular refineries, and imports, to foster competition in the downstream sector.

“After due consultation with key stakeholders and players in the petroleum sector, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has taken a firm stance on promoting healthy competition and controlling price fluctuations in the downstream sector.

“To this effect, PETROAN advocates the importance of preventing monopolies and ensuring local refineries thrive, given their significant economic benefits to the country.

“The importance of healthy competition: Healthy competition is essential for fostering innovation, improving service delivery, and ensuring that consumers have access to affordable products. When competition thrives, it leads to better choices for consumers and ultimately contributes to economic growth.

“PETROAN firmly believes that a competitive downstream sector is not just beneficial but necessary.

“To achieve this, PETROAN advocates for a multiplicity of supply sources, including Dangote Refinery, NNPC refineries, modular refineries, and imports. This diverse range of sources will foster competition, especially with imports, allowing for comparisons with international market prices and protecting the local market from exploitation.

“We advocate for policies that dismantle barriers to entry for new players, promote fair practices among existing companies, and ensure that no single entity can dominate the market to the detriment of consumers,” the statement reads.

The Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, has refuted reports suggesting that Taledo Damian, the recently arrested kidnapper of two Catholic priests, was a mass server or cleric within the diocese.

Addressing a press conference in Yola, Bishop Mamza clarified that while the suspect was a member of the church, he did not hold any official role as a mass server or cleric.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that the kidnapper is not a mass server, nor is he a cleric. He is simply a member of the church. There has been a lot of misinformation about his identity, and it is important to correct this,” the bishop stated.

Bishop Mamza emphasized the need to protect the integrity of the church’s clergy and mass servers, stressing that misinformation could harm their reputation.

“Mass servers play a crucial role in church activities, and their reputation should not be unfairly tarnished due to misinformation,” he added.

The bishop commended the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante operatives for their dedication and professionalism in rescuing the two abducted priests.

“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the security agents who played a role in securing the release of the priests. In particular, I give credit to the DSS and the vigilante group in Numan. They carried out the rescue operation, and I am truly grateful for their swift and professional handling of the situation,” he said.

Bishop Mamza revealed that from the moment the priests were kidnapped on February 22, 2025, the DSS and vigilante operatives worked tirelessly to secure their release.

“Since the priests were kidnapped, we have worked closely with the DSS and vigilante group in Numan. I am aware of all the steps taken. It was the DSS and vigilante team that stormed the house where the priests were held and successfully rescued them.”

He further explained that security operatives attempted to apprehend the kidnapper when he came to collect ransom. Though he initially escaped, he later had an accident on his motorcycle and fled on foot.

“While attempting to surrender himself to the DSS, he was somehow taken into police custody instead,” Bishop Mamza added.