Petrol Imports Hit 613.6 Million Litres in One Year Despite Refinery Gains

Nigeria imported over 613.6 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between October 2024 and October 10, 2025, according to fresh data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Despite increased local refining from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other domestic plants, imported petrol still dominated the country’s fuel supply during the review period.

The report, obtained on Monday in Abuja, showed that 236.08 million litres of petrol came from domestic refineries, while 377.54 million litres were imported — meaning imports accounted for 63 per cent of Nigeria’s total consumption within the period.
Local refineries supplied the remaining 37 per cent, a marked improvement from the previous year.

Imports Declining, Local Supply Rising

According to the NMDPRA, local refining nearly doubled within one year — from 9.62 million litres per day in October 2024 to 18.93 million litres per day by October 2025.
In contrast, import volumes plunged from 46.38 million litres per day to 15.11 million litres per day, representing a 67 per cent drop.

A monthly analysis revealed consistent declines in imports and steady growth in local output. Import volumes dropped from 46.38 million litres in October 2024 to 15.11 million litres by October 2025, while domestic refining grew from 9.62 million litres to nearly 19 million litres per day over the same period.

Refinery Impact and Challenges

The data highlights a steady restructuring of Nigeria’s fuel supply landscape, with local refineries—particularly the Dangote Refinery—gradually bridging the import gap.

Analysts attribute the improvement to Dangote Refinery’s full-year operations in 2025, which now contribute between 15 and 20 million litres of petrol daily.
Since its commissioning in May 2023, the refinery has become central to Nigeria’s energy transition agenda, reducing foreign exchange pressure and restoring confidence in domestic refining after years of underperformance by state-owned plants in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

Experts Call for Policy Support

Commenting on the development, Olatide Jeremiah, CEO of Petroleum.ng, said the progress underscores Nigeria’s potential for self-sufficiency if local refiners gain uninterrupted access to crude oil.

“In the past year, domestic refining, led by Dangote Refinery, has made tremendous progress — now meeting about 40 per cent of daily petrol needs. But for this progress to continue, refiners must have guaranteed access to crude in naira,” Jeremiah said.

He noted that despite being Africa’s largest oil producer and home to the continent’s biggest refinery, Nigeria still imports around 60 per cent of its petrol — a situation he described as “inconsistent with the country’s energy potential.”

Jeremiah urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to adopt stronger frameworks that ensure steady crude allocation to local refineries.

“Nigeria should not be importing 60 per cent of its fuel consumption. With full access to domestic crude, pump prices will drop, and availability will be guaranteed,” he added.

The Bigger Picture

The NMDPRA data also showed that total petrol supply averaged 46.6 million litres per day, with 29.5 million litres from imports and 17.1 million litres from local production.
This growing shift toward local refining has helped ease pressure on the country’s foreign reserves, previously strained by billions of dollars spent monthly on fuel importation.

Still, the report cautioned that logistical bottlenecks and maintenance downtime occasionally disrupt consistent supply, with volumes dipping from 55.21 million litres in May 2025 to 34.04 million litres in October 2025.