Local Refining Drives 60 Percent Drop in Nigeria’s Petrol Imports as Supply Hits 3.18bn Litres

May 14, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s petrol imports declined sharply in the first quarter of 2026 as increased output from local refineries strengthened domestic fuel supply, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The report showed that petrol imports fell to 965.52 million litres in Q1 2026, down from an estimated 2.43 billion litres recorded in the same period of 2025, representing a 60.2 percent year-on-year decline.

At the same time, supply from local refineries rose significantly to 3.179 billion litres from 1.996 billion litres in Q1 2025, reflecting a 59.2 percent increase.

Although the NMDPRA did not specifically name Dangote Refinery, the facility remains the only refinery publicly known to be producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at a commercial scale during the period under review.

The figures indicate that domestic refineries supplied about 76.7 percent of Nigeria’s total petrol volumes in Q1 2026, compared with 45.2 percent in the corresponding period of 2025.

Despite the surge in local refining, total PMS supply dipped slightly to 4.14 billion litres in Q1 2026 from 4.42 billion litres a year earlier, suggesting that local production has not fully replaced reduced imports.

A breakdown of the data showed that February 2026 recorded the steepest decline in imports, which plunged by 88.9 percent to 85.1 million litres from about 770 million litres in February 2025.

During the same month, local refinery supply rose to 824.45 million litres, accounting for more than 90 percent of total PMS supply.

In March 2026, imports increased slightly to 182.24 million litres, while local refinery contribution climbed to 1.11 billion litres, further highlighting Nigeria’s growing shift toward domestic fuel production.

Ogochukwu Onwaeze, THEWILL

Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.