The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the operations of the Dangote Refinery to help reduce the rising price of petrol across the country.

The National President of IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi, made the appeal in an interview on Tuesday.

His call comes amid a recent increase in petrol prices, with the product selling between N1,310 and N1,345 per litre in Abuja and neighbouring areas.

The latest price hike followed increases in the gantry and ex-depot prices of petrol by the Dangote Refinery and depot owners.

Reacting to the development, Maigandi urged the Federal Government to broker an agreement with the Dangote Refinery as part of measures to reduce fuel prices nationwide.

He stressed that government intervention in the downstream petroleum sector should not be interpreted as a return to fuel subsidy.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to broker a deal with Dangote Refinery to reduce fuel prices.

“The government should intervene with Nigerian refiners, and this will lead to a reduction in fuel prices. It is different from fuel subsidy. In a situation where there is difficulty, the government should step in,” the IPMAN president said.