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DAPPMAN’s demand of ₦75 per litre for coastal freight self-serving – CSOs
Cyril Ogar
Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) and Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF) on Friday accused the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) of seeking to exploit citizens and plunge the nation back into subsidy fraud.
According to the civil society groups, DAPPMAN’s demand of ₦75 per litre for coastal freight and ops cost, translating to ₦1.505 trillion, is self-serving and nothing but greed. While calling on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to beam its searchlight on DAPPMAN, as the activities are undermining local refining, sabotaging Dangote Refinery from the start and threatening the Federal Government’s Reform Agenda.
The CSOs made this known in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Ibrahim Suleiman and Mrs. Grace Okonkwo, President and National Secretary of COCSON, respectively; As well as Rev. Dr. Matthew Ayodele and Imam Musa Abdullahi, National Chairman and Secretary of NIF, respectively, in Abuja.
The concerns raised by the group were accompanied by a protest march in the nation’s capital on Friday, September 26, 2025.
While backing the Dangote Refinery’s genuine efforts in transforming the Petroleum Industry, the groups vowed to file a suit against DAPPMAN in the Federal High Court for economic sabotage, conspiracy, and deliberate attempt to reintroduce subsidy through the backdoor.
The statement reads: “We condemn the shameful attempt by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) to blackmail Nigerians into paying a backdoor subsidy of ₦1.505 trillion annually.
“This demand is not just outrageous; it is treachery against the Nigerian people. It is economic sabotage disguised as business.
“At such a critical time, for DAPPMAN to demand that Nigerians underwrite their inefficiencies with ₦1.5 trillion yearly is nothing but wickedness. It would rob our hospitals of funding, deny schools resources, cripple infrastructure development, and keep our nation shackled to poverty. This is not subsidy — it is extortion.”
On why DAPPMAN must be checked by the government, the groups maintained that the body had become a national threat.
“They Undermine Local Refining: Dangote Refinery has exported over 3.2 million metric tonnes of refined products in three months, proving capacity. Meanwhile, DAPPMAN imported 3.6 million metric tonnes, promoting dumping and sabotaging Nigeria’s economy.
“They Sabotaged Dangote from the Start: When Dangote Refinery was completed, the refinery had over 500 million litres of products in stock, and Dangote himself had to plead publicly with NNPC, marketers, and transporters to patronize him. Instead, they deliberately imported products from abroad to frustrate his operations.
“Faced with this sabotage, Dangote was forced to buy over 4,000 trucks to enter the oil transport sector. Who pushed him into this? Not Nigerians, but the very marketers and transporters now crying foul.
“Today, these same actors accuse him of chasing them out of the market to create a monopoly. Where is the monopoly?
“They abandoned him, tried to strangle his refinery, and left him no option but to strategize for survival. If they are not careful, he may enter retailing, and then he will fully integrate production, transport, and retail. That is not a monopoly; that is resilience and strategy in the face of cartel sabotage.
“They Threaten Tinubu’s Reform Agenda: Entertaining such demands would roll back the government’s courageous removal of fuel subsidy and tarnish Nigeria’s international credibility.
“Fellow Nigerians, this is not just a fight for Dangote Refinery. This is a fight for Nigeria’s future. This is a battle between nation-builders and nation-wreckers, between patriots and profiteers, between hope and despair.
“DAPPMAN’s demand for ₦1.505 trillion subsidy is a declaration of war on the Nigerian people. Our response is clear: we will resist, we will mobilise, we will litigate, and we will not rest until this cartel is defeated.
“We urge the Federal Government to stand firm, Nigerians to stand united, and Dangote Refinery to stand strong. Together, we will ensure that no group, no cartel, and no vested interest will derail Nigeria’s refining revolution.”
News
Ex-NYSC Spokesperson Advises Corps Members to Uphold Patriotism and Play Active Roles in Developing the Nation
Joel Ajayi
Corps Members have been advised to be patriotic towards National building and also use the opportunities of NYSC service year to positively invest in their future.
The immediate past Director of Information and Public Relations of NYSC, Chief Eddy Megwa, stated this during his motivational lecture to Corps Members at the Bauchi State Orientation Camp, Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the State.
Addressing the 2025 Batch ‘C’ Corps Members, Chief Megwa urged them to serve the nation with loyalty and strong sense of commitment, adding that, no nation grows without the selfless services of her citizens, he therefore urged them to rise up and make the desired change.
The Retired Director, urged the Corps Members to deliberately work towards building a great nation that would compete among the comity of nations, because, “if things are working very well, the youths will not be desperate about relocating to other countries of the world for greener pastures”.
He discouraged the youths from irregular migration, describing it as a suicide mission, because of many risks associated with it, including avoidable deaths, jail terms among others, but equally advised them to follow the official travelling protocol if the need for foreign trip arises.
He also encouraged the Corps Members to strive for excellence in whatever they do, adding that they should leverage on the achievements of their predecessors.
“Do not put your names and your families’ names into disrepute by getting involved in crimes and other unwholesome activities. NYSC is not a safe haven for criminals”, he said.
The former image maker of NYSC described the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the NYSC as the panacea to graduate unemployment. He therefore advised the Corps Members to take advantage of the SAED programme by learning skills that would be useful and enable them become entrepreneurs.
He emphasized that the days of white collar jobs are over as the reality of today is self employment which is made possible by embracing Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship training.
The Public Relations guru advised the Corps Members Members to be security conscious as vigilance and self consciousness of their environment are key to personal safety.
Earlier, the NYSC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr Kufre Umoren appreciated the retired Director for the visit and his words of motivation to both camp officials and Corps Members.
The Coordinator described Chief Megwa as a living legend that shaped the NYSC Public Relations Unit to what it is today and left his footprints boldly.
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