Petrol imports into Nigeria climbed by 59.5 percent in May despite the Dangote Petroleum Refinery retaining its entire Premium Motor Spirit output for domestic supply and exporting none of the product, with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s operations data showing that imported petrol rose from 3.7 million litres per day in April to 5.9 million litres per day in May while the refinery simultaneously operated at 101.25 percent of its rated 650,000 barrel-per-day capacity.
The NMDPRA figures showed the refinery produced an average of 44.7 million litres of petrol daily during the period, supplying 41.5 million litres to the domestic market, while national consumption stood at 46.3 million litres per day. Imports represented approximately 12.4 percent of total petrol supply, with national stock sufficiency estimated at 16 days. Total supply exceeded demand during the month, suggesting the rise in imports was driven by commercial strategy and supply diversification rather than a shortage.
The data renewed the debate between the refinery and market regulators over the continued role of importers in Nigeria’s fuel supply. The Dangote Refinery has maintained that unrestricted imports undermine the economics of domestic refining and discourage further investment in local production capacity, while regulators and some industry participants argue that maintaining a level of imports ensures supply diversity and prevents monopolistic concentration in a critical national commodity.
Elsewhere in the downstream data, domestic diesel production surged 121.2 percent from 8.5 million litres per day to 18.8 million litres per day, eliminating diesel imports entirely for the month and representing one of the clearest indicators yet of expanding domestic refining capability. Aviation fuel supply rose 38.5 percent alongside a 24 percent increase in consumption, reflecting stronger air travel activity. Cooking gas supply softened, falling 8.9 percent to 4.1 kilotons per day, while crude oil receipts by domestic refineries declined 5.6 percent from 612,000 to 578,000 barrels per day. Progress was also reported on major gas infrastructure projects including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline at 94.3 percent completion and the OB3 River Niger Crossing at 96 percent.
