Between October 2024 and October 2025, Nigerians consumed a total of 613.62 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly called petrol, for transportation, power generation, and household purposes, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) obtained by The PUNCH in Abuja.
Despite increased production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other local plants, imported petrol still dominated the country’s supply within the period under review. Of the total volume consumed, 377.54 million litres,about 63%,were imported, while 236.08 million litres, or 37%, came from domestic refineries.
The report showed a gradual but notable shift in Nigeria’s fuel supply structure. Local production rose from 9.62 million litres per day in October 2024 to 18.93 million litres per day by October 2025, reflecting nearly a 100% increase. Conversely, petrol imports fell from 46.38 million litres daily to 15.11 million litres within the same period, representing a 67% drop.
A monthly breakdown of the figures revealed consistent declines in importation and corresponding growth in local refining output. Imports dropped from 46.38 million litres in October 2024 to 36.39 million litres in November and 38.90 million litres in December. By January 2025, imports had declined further to 24.15 million litres, and though they fluctuated slightly in subsequent months, they hit a low of 15.11 million litres by October 2025.
On the other hand, domestic refining witnessed a steady upward trend. Production climbed from 9.62 million litres in October 2024 to 19.36 million litres in November and remained above 20 million litres through the first half of 2025. The Dangote Refinery, with its 650,000-barrels-per-day capacity, led this growth, contributing between 15 and 20 million litres daily to the national supply.
Overall, total petrol supply during the review period averaged 46.6 million litres per day, comprising 29.5 million litres from imports and 17.1 million litres from local production. This improvement has helped reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign refined products, easing pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves. Previously, importers spent billions of dollars monthly on freight, insurance, and letters of credit.
However, the report also pointed to supply fluctuations, with total volumes dipping from 55.21 million litres in May 2025 to 34.04 million litres in October 2025, largely due to logistics challenges and maintenance activities affecting distribution.
Analysts attribute the shift to the first full operational year of the Dangote Refinery, which has reshaped the fuel supply landscape and boosted confidence in Nigeria’s refining capacity after years of failure at state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
According to Olatide Jeremiah, CEO of Petroleum.ng, the refinery’s progress underscores a growing improvement in Nigeria’s energy security. He, however, emphasized the need for unrestricted crude oil access in naira for local refiners to scale up operations and lower pump prices. Jeremiah lamented that despite Nigeria being Africa’s largest oil producer and home to the continent’s biggest refinery, the country still imports around 60% of its petrol, a situation he described as inconsistent with its energy potential.
He urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to strengthen policies ensuring full crude supply to local refineries, arguing that Nigeria should not be importing the majority of its fuel when it has the capacity to meet demand locally.
