Major fuel consumers and filling stations are progressively bypassing intermediary suppliers, opting for Dangote’s complimentary delivery service.
Yusuf Othman, President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, censured the practice of providing free fuel deliveries to filling stations, telecom companies, and other large-scale consumers, pointing out that many buyers, having received free supplies from Dangote, are disregarding agreements established with members of his association.
He said, “We have our members who have signed agreements with so many companies.
“Some are even informal agreements, but we have formal agreements signed, and by that, we used those formal agreements to collect bank facilities to buy trucks and serve those companies. But now, those agreements are at stake because a big brother is coming to supply directly to them, not minding the fact that they have signed agreements with us.
“Though they have not officially informed us, and it’s not officially confirmed, the information available to us showed that this is ongoing, and as such, our trucks will not be used again. That is one of the reasons why so many of our members are complaining. If I sign an agreement with you for service by virtue of my 10 trucks, and somebody somewhere comes to do the same thing for you for free, it’s a very delicate situation.
“So, that is one of the reasons why we are calling on the Federal Government, especially the NMDPRA, which has told all of us clearly that this act is an illegal act by virtue of Section 212 of the PIA.”
