Independent petroleum marketers across Nigeria have started receiving free fuel deliveries from Dangote Refinery, a move expected to ease distribution costs and reduce pump prices.

The president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Shettima, confirmed on Friday that marketers in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and other South-West states have already taken delivery of products without transport charges.

“Dangote has started the free delivery. Trucks are already discharging products in parts of the Western Zone, and my members are very pleased with the development,” Shettima said.

Earlier this week, the refinery rolled out more than 1,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks, part of a larger fleet of 4,000 ordered from China. The rollout, initially scheduled for August 15, was delayed by shipping bottlenecks, but the remaining vehicles are expected before October.

Shettima explained that only registered marketers will benefit from the logistics-free supply, though registration remains open through the refinery’s online portal.

The initiative is already affecting pump prices. According to IPMAN, rates are projected to drop from 865 naira per litre to about 841 naira as supplies expand. Some stations, including MRS outlets, have reportedly adjusted prices downward in response to the deliveries.

By distributing products directly, Dangote Refinery aims to bypass middlemen, cut marketers’ expenses, and ease the financial burden on motorists struggling with high fuel costs since subsidy removal in 2023.