Nigerian billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has weighed in on the ongoing fuel supply dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), advising the association to innovate or risk becoming irrelevant.
According to Otedola, the Dangote Refinery’s success marks a significant turning point for Nigeria’s energy independence and economic future. “Today, more than just producing fuel, Aliko Dangote has elevated the entire logistics chain, purchasing 8,000 brand new CNG eco-friendly trucks that will distribute across the country with less pollution and fewer breakdowns,” Otedola stated.
Otedola, who founded DAPPMAN 23 years ago to challenge the dominance of major marketers and provide a platform for independent depot owners, emphasized that times have changed. With the Dangote Refinery now supplying fuel locally, the old business model built on fuel imports, subsidy exploitation, and outdated infrastructure is crumbling.
*Adapting to Change*
Otedola urged DAPPMAN members to consider selling their assets, restructuring, or investing in new opportunities like retail outlets. “What is DAPPMAN fighting for today? To preserve a model built on fuel imports, subsidy exploitation, and outdated infrastructure? That era is fast disappearing,” he said.
He also criticized the association’s demand for the Dangote Refinery to subsidize them with N1.5 trillion, saying it would unfairly transfer costs to consumers. “There is no reason why the Dangote Refinery should subsidize DAPPMAN with N1.5 trillion which they are asking Dangote Refinery to pay and subsequently pass this cost to consumers,” Otedola argued.[¹](https://www.dconnectnews.com.ng/2025/09/dangote-refinery-change-has-come-to-oil.html) [²](https://www.octagonagentsofdevelopmentdirectory.com.ng/article/dangote-refinery-change-has-come-to-the-oil-sector-nigerian-DanCM)
*A New Era for Nigeria’s Oil Sector*
Otedola praised President Bola Tinubu for deregulating the downstream petroleum sector, ending subsidy exploitation and ushering in transparency and competition. He also commended Dangote for transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, saying his achievements would benefit future generations.
In a lighter vein, Otedola told Dangote, “Africans are proud of you… You can now go to Monaco and rest jejely like me. You’ve earned it”.