By Abiola Olawale
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, owned by Africa’s richest man and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has suspended its fuel discount scheme following allegations of widespread fraud by affiliate marketers and strategic partners.
The decision, announced in a letter dated July 13, 2025, and signed by the Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations, Fatima Dangote, is said to be aimed at curbing the diversion of subsidized petroleum products for illicit profits.
According to the statement, the discount program was initially launched to ensure that affordable and clean petroleum products reached consumers nationwide while supporting registered marketers with competitive pricing against fuel importers.
However, Dangote refinery said its investigations revealed that some marketers exploited their Authority to Collect (ATC) loading tickets, allowing non-registered importers to purchase subsidized products directly from the refinery’s tarmac.
These products were then resold at market rates, bypassing logistics and retail costs, and netting quick profits at the expense of the scheme’s objectives.
The letter reads in part: “In our drive to ensure the distribution and retail sale of DPRP refined petroleum products across your service stations nationwide, DPRP commenced the strategic partnership scheme with the sole aim of providing consumers nationwide access to affordable and clean petroleum products.
“Unfortunately, over the last few months, DPRP has been receiving unprecedented complaints of Strategic Partners (Partners) selling their ATCs at the refinery (Tarmac) below the prevailing PMS gantry product price. Whilst we have engaged Partners severally on this, it has become evident that this has become an area of grave concern to DPRP as it affects the sustainability of our gantry operations.
“To this end, DPRP Management is suspending the discounted price offered to Partners effective 13th July 2025 and working towards restructuring the scheme.”
