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DAPPMAN’s demand of ₦75 per litre for coastal freight self-serving – CSOs

Published

5 days ago

September 26, 2025

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.”

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Philanthropist Tsar conferred with UNIPGC Doctorate Award in UK

Published

56 mins ago

October 1, 2025

The Gleamer

Dr. Livinus Adzer Tsar, a renowned Nigerian philanthropist has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Award in Leadership and Governance by the American University of Peace and Governance in conjunction with the United International Peace and Governance Council (UNIPGC), at the 3rd Edition of the Global Leadership Investment Summit and Peace Award at the House of Lords, British Parliament, London, UK.

In his remarks, Amb. Dr. Jonathan Ojadah, UNIPGC Global President and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, urged the recipients to serve as worthy peace ambassadors and exemplary leaders on the global stage.

He added that the recognition was due to their outstanding contributions to sustainable humanitarian efforts, social work, and development management.

Dr. Tsar is the first Benue indigene to be inducted as a member of the UNIPGC which has its headquarters in Atlanta, GA in the United States of America.

The UNIPGC is a Civil Society/Diplomatic organization devoted to the promotion of Sustainable Peace, Good Governance Advocacy and Poverty Eradication across the globe.

Also speaking, Dr Graziella Thake, Secretary General of UNIPGC, said the Doctorate Award was given to Dr. Tsar, as a result of his dedication to investment in property eradication programs, peace initiative and empowering of Nigerian youths, women, vulnerable and widows.

Award is in recognition of the activities of the recipient, Livinus Tsar in ensuring peace, good governance, empowerment, community development and skill acquisition of thousands of Benue people and Nigerians, he added.

In his remarks, Dr Tsar reaffirms his support for the mandates of the Benue State government in several areas of governance. He has also promised to lubricate and oil the wheels of relationships between the state government led by Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia and the people of the state and had also created public awareness on the various activities of the government.

He retirated the commencement of his skill acquisition for thousands of Benue State people on sewing, making of organic fertilizer, barbing, hairdressing, shoe making, fabrics making, and many other vocations skills where over hundreds of trainees who have completed their trainings have collected N300,000.00 each.

Dr Tsar emphasized that through his organization, Livitsar Support Group For Alia/Tinubu 2027, he donated several motorized boreholes with reticulation across the 23 local government of Benue State.

In a brief remark, Prof. Kohol Iornem, Director of Programmes at London Graduate School, described the honor as a call to deepen his commitment to sustainable peace and development while thanking the dignitaries for finding time to attend and celebrate the awardee.

UNIPGC is Governed by the Supreme Council which constitutes the highest order of the organogram and is headed by the Global President who doubles as the Chairman of the Supreme Council to oversee the affairs of all activities and programs of UNIPGC worldwide.

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