Man Raises Alarm After Spotting Hundreds of Dangote Tankers, Sparks Monopoly Fears

A Nigerian man has raised concerns after recording hundreds of Dangote fuel tankers lined up on a highway. He claimed that the billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, might be planning to dominate Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

According to reports, the new fleet of trucks owned by the Dangote Group runs on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Each truck is designed to transport refined fuel products such as petrol and diesel directly from the Dangote Refinery to filling stations across the country.

The company reportedly plans to deploy about 4,000 CNG-powered tankers in total. These trucks are not only fuel-efficient but also help reduce logistics costs when compared to diesel-powered vehicles.

This move, however, has stirred controversy among independent fuel marketers. Many believe it gives Dangote an unfair advantage that could lead to a monopoly in the petroleum distribution sector. Despite the criticism, Dangote Group insists that the decision is purely strategic and aimed at improving efficiency and cutting costs.

By handling its own logistics, Dangote is seeking to distribute fuel products directly — bypassing independent marketers who traditionally dominate the supply chain. This new system, which is expected to fully take off by August 2025, represents a major shift in Nigeria’s fuel distribution model.

With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Dangote Refinery is the largest in Africa and one of the biggest single-train refineries in the world. Its massive production scale has raised fears that it could control a significant share of the local market and influence fuel prices nationwide.

Industry groups such as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have warned that the move might cripple smaller marketers and cause job losses. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has also clashed with the company over labor-related issues.

In response, Aliko Dangote has dismissed claims of monopoly, urging other investors to build their own refineries instead of “using the cry of monopoly to stall growth.”

The company also explained that its decision to invest in CNG-powered trucks and manage its own fuel distribution is a response to market challenges, including boycotts and what it described as “unfair competition” from fuel importation cartels.

Dangote further noted that over 30 refinery licenses have been issued to private companies in Nigeria — including BUA, Aradel, and Waltersmith — showing that the market remains open for competition.

He emphasized that the Dangote Refinery has transformed Nigeria into a net exporter of refined products, improving energy security and reducing dependence on imported fuels.

To promote transparency and broader ownership, Dangote also announced plans to list the refinery on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), allowing ordinary Nigerians to invest and own shares in the company.

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