The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has announced that the Federal Government is actively responding to its grievances, a development that has temporarily averted a planned nationwide strike.
The National President of the Association, Billy Gillis-Harry, confirmed the government’s intervention during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ programme.
Gillis-Harry outlined that the primary issue prompting the strike declaration was an alleged monopoly by the Dangote Refinery.
He expressed the association’s concern that the refinery was seeking to dominate multiple tiers of the downstream petroleum sector, a move that threatens the businesses of established marketers.
According to him, this pattern began in June, with fillers indicating the Dangote Refinery’s intention to involve itself not only in refining but also in storage, logistics, and potentially even the operation of retail outlets, thereby sidelining independent players.
The PETROAN president stated that the core objective of the association is to ensure the industry operates efficiently and fairly for all players, ultimately serving the best interests of Nigerian consumers.
He emphasised the long-standing structure of the sector, which has been in place for over 50 years and includes a diverse range of stakeholders, such as major marketers, depot owners, independent marketers, PETROAN, NUPENG, and NARTO, each with a clearly defined role.
Gillis-Harry confirmed that the government has now initiated talks with stakeholders in the downstream sector to resolve these lingering issues. This engagement has provided a pathway for dialogue, leading to the decision to hold off on the industrial action while negotiations continue.
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cc: Daily Post NG
