…Vessel also readied for distribution
Officials keep mute on price
A long queue of petrol tankers yesterday formed along the stretch of the road leading to the Dangote Refinery at Lekki, Lagos as they slowly made their way into the company’s fuel loading gantry ahead of the commencement of the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) today.

Also on standby at the refinery’s loading/discharging facility is a vessel –Binta Saleh- for the same purpose.

The trucks and the vessel belong to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) which confirmed that it had mobilised over 100 of such vehicles to the refinery by yesterday afternoon in preparation for petrol lifting.

It said: “In preparation for the Dangote Refinery’s scheduled petrol loading on Sunday, September 15, 2024, NNPC Ltd. has been mobilising trucks to the refinery’s fuel loading gantry in Ibeju-Lekki. As of Saturday afternoon, NNPC Ltd. had deployed over 100 trucks, with hundreds more en route.”

Spokesman for NNPCL Femi Soneye in an update on his X handle @FM_Soneye last night said the figure would reach 300 by the end of the day.

“NNPC Ltd. trucks are arriving at the Dangote Refinery in preparation for the scheduled petrol loading on Sunday, September 15, 2024. By the end of today (yesterday), at least 300 trucks will be stationed at the refinery’s fuel loading gantry,” he said.

The NNPCL is the only off-taker of Dangote petrol for now, according to the terms of agreement reached between the company and the refinery.

In effect, interested marketers will be buying the product from the national oil firm.

However, any marketer can buy diesel directly from the refinery.

Under the agreement, the NNPCL will supply about 385,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) to the refinery with effect from next month.

In return, the refinery will supply PMS and diesel of equivalent value to the domestic market, to be paid in naira.

“Diesel will be sold in naira by the Dangote Refinery to any interested off-taker. PMS will only be sold to NNPC, NNPC will then sell to various marketers for now,” Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,Mr. Wale Edun said on Friday at a press conference in Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by Zach Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), also said that all associated regulatory costs pertaining to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and others would also be paid for in naira.

“We are also setting up a one-stop shop that will coordinate service provision from all regulatory, and security agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation of this initiative. This will be located in Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos,” Edun said.

He added: “The technical committee that worked to flesh out this initiative will transition to an implementation execution and monitoring committee that will be working out of Lagos for the next three to six months.”

It was gathered that the NNPCL would pay Dangote Refinery in dollar for the PMS until the end of this month because the crude it has been using was imported and paid for in dollar.

Sources also said that NNPCL assumed the role of sole off-taker for Dangote’s PMS because most dealers showed no interest and also lack the capacity for the job.

Government believes that allowing the refinery pay for the crude supplied it by NNPCL in naira would go a long way in easing the demand for foreign exchange in the country.

The petrol distribution is coming about 480 days after the May 22,2023 inauguration of the refinery.

However, production of diesel and aviation fuel began last January after the refinery took its first delivery of crude on December 12, 2023.

Chairman of the Dangote Group,Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the refinery has capacity to load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.

“The products from the Refinery will conform to Euro V specifications. The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms. Employing state-of-the-art technology,” he said.

The Lagos State Government promised a comprehensive traffic management strategy to guarantee uninterrupted traffic flow in the Lekki-Ajah corridor in view of the heavy vehicular traffic to be generated by fuel loading at the refinery.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, said the State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) had been fortified with state-of-the-art equipment and trained personnel which would be strategically deployed to oversee and regulate traffic flow within the affected areas.

He assured residents and commuters in the Lekki-Ajah vicinity that thorough preparations had been made, urging them to remain calm and confident in the state government’s capabilities.

“In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, LASTMA has mobilised advanced tow trucks and emergency response equipment to promptly address anticipated potential traffic disruptions.

“Medical ambulance services are also on high alert to ensure rapid response in emergency situations,” the special adviser said.

He said that it was imperative for tanker operators to strictly adhere to traffic regulations, particularly during loading and navigation, within the Lekki-Ajah axis.

Giwa said that the state government would rigorously enforce the regulations to avert traffic disruptions and ensure seamless vehicular movement.

“The Lagos State Government reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding citizens’ welfare and maintaining orderly traffic during this pivotal period of industrial activity.

Read Also: Dangote Refinery begins distribution of PMS tomorrow – Edun

“All motoring public, particularly commercial bus operators, including mini-bus drivers, are hereby cautioned to comply with traffic laws refraining them from picking up, or dropping, passengers at undesignated bus stops.

“They are urged to avoid driving against traffic. They are also advised to observe all road signs, including traffic signals, among other regulations.

“Adherence to these regulations will ensure a harmonious and efficient transportation system.”