A consortium of downstream oil marketers has called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate alleged anti-competitive pricing practices by the Dangote Refinery. The marketers claim that the refinery’s pricing strategies are discouraging fair competition and undermining business sustainability in Nigeria’s oil sector.

In a statement issued to journalists, the consortium emphasized that the FCCPC was established to combat anti-competitive practices and ensure a level playing field in the Nigerian economy. According to them, the commission’s mandate includes monitoring business interactions among wholesalers, retailers, and other market players, with the goal of preventing monopolistic tendencies and protecting consumers from exploitation.

The marketers alleged that Dangote Refinery has engaged in practices that amount to abuse of market dominance. They cited instances where buyers are charged a fixed price for commodities, only for the refinery to announce sudden price reductions after transactions have been completed. For example, they explained that if a commodity is purchased at ₦700 per unit, the refinery might later reduce the price by ₦100 without refunding the difference to earlier buyers.

They further claimed that bulk buyers, such as those purchasing millions of litres, are particularly disadvantaged. According to the consortium, once such buyers load their products, the refinery often reduces the price, effectively discouraging large-scale purchases. This practice, they argued, amounts to “disincentivising business” and creates uncertainty in the market.

The statement also highlighted that price gouging and fixing are recognized as criminal offences under Nigerian law, and the FCCPC has the authority to take legal action against violators. The marketers urged regulators in the oil sector to liaise closely with the FCCPC to ensure that pricing abuses are thoroughly investigated and addressed.

“The aim is to investigate abuse of prices and prevent practices that harm competition and consumers,” the consortium stressed, adding that unchecked market domination could erode trust and destabilize the downstream oil industry.

The consortium of marketers is concerned about pricing transparency and market fairness are now raising questions about its impact on competition and consumer welfare.

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong condemnation of the Nigerian Senate’s recent rejection of a real-time electronic transmission of election results, labeling the move a “calculated blow against transparency, credibility, and public trust.”

In a strongly-worded statement released today, Alhaji Atiku described the decision as a “grave setback for electoral reform” and a sign that the ruling establishment is unwilling to subject elections to public scrutiny.

“The decision of the Nigerian Senate to reject the real-time electronic transmission of election results is a deliberate assault on electoral transparency,” Abubakar declared. “At a time when democracies across the world are strengthening their electoral systems through technology, the Nigerian Senate has chosen to cling to opacity.”

The former presidential candidate argued that real-time electronic transmission is a non-partisan democratic essential. “It reduces human interference, limits result manipulation, and ensures that the will of the voter… is faithfully reflected,” he stated. He criticized the Senate for reverting to a “face-saving provision” from the 2022 Electoral Act, which critics say allows for delays and potential interference.

Atiku framed the Senate’s action as part of a troubling pattern. “Every reform that strengthens transparency is resisted, while every ambiguity that benefits incumbency is preserved,” he asserted. This, he warned, raises “troubling questions about the commitment of the ruling political establishment to free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.”

He emphasized that elections must be decided by voters, “not by manual delays, backroom alterations, [or] procedural excuses.”

Concluding with a rallying cry, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar called on “Nigerians, civil society organizations, the media, and the international community to take note of this regression” and to demand a modern electoral system.

“Nigeria deserves elections that are transparent, verifiable, and beyond manipulation,” he said. “Anything less is an injustice to the electorate and a betrayal of democracy.”

The statement signals heightened political tensions as the nation begins its long-cycle preparations for the next general election, with opposition figures positioning electoral integrity as a central battle line.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has convened its first regular consultative meeting of the year with registered political parties, marking the start of formal preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, held at INEC headquarters in Abuja, has drawn leadership from major parties but is being overshadowed by a conspicuous intra-party division. A faction of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki, is notably absent.

In contrast, the PDP’s rival faction, led by National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and its factional National Chairman, Abdul Rahman Mohammed, is in attendance.

The session features broad participation from other key political organizations. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is represented by its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and the party’s National Secretary. The Labour Party delegation includes its National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, and National Secretary Senator Darlington Nwokocha.

The consultative forum is a critical mechanism for INEC to align with political stakeholders on electoral timelines, frameworks, and potential reforms ahead of the next national polls.