February 16, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s daily petrol import volume slumped by 42.2 percent in January 2026, falling to 24.8 million liters per day from 42.8 million liters per day recorded in December 2025, according to the latest Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) report.
The sharp reduction in imports comes amid a significant uptick in domestic petrol supply, primarily driven by increased output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Daily petrol deliveries from Dangote rose 25.3 percent to 40.1 million litres per day in January, up from 32 million litres in the previous month.
As a result, total daily petrol supply declined to 64.9 million liters in January from 74.2 million liters in December a 12.5 percent drop overall. Despite the lower imports, Nigeria recorded 33 days of petrol sufficiency during the month due to improved stock levels and supply performance, the report noted.
The NMDPRA said the average daily petrol consumption, based on truck-out data, remained above the government’s benchmark of 50 million liters, averaging 60.2 million liters per day.
Other petroleum products also registered notable figures in January: Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) clocked 19.2 million liters per day, aviation fuel at 3.5 million liters, and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) at 4,860 metric tonnes daily.
On refinery performance, the NMDPRA reported that the Dangote facility operated at 61.27 per cent capacity in January, while all three federal government-owned refineries managed by NNPC Limited remained shut.
Commenting on the state of the sector, NMDPRA Chief Executive Engr. Saidu Mohammed described the downstream market as undergoing an “irreversible renaissance” brought about by regulatory reforms, investments, and market liberalisation under the Petroleum Industry Act.
He emphasised that the regulatory framework is now focused on enabling value and building confidence in the market.
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.
