Nigeria’s petrol exports to Togo reached ₦105.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), highlighting shifting regional fuel flows amid expanding domestic refining capacity.
The data points to increased shipments of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across West Africa, with Togo’s Port of Lomé continuing to function as a major transshipment and storage hub for petroleum products destined for redistribution within the sub-region. Market participants say a portion of these flows may be re-exported to neighbouring countries, reflecting the role of Lomé in regional fuel logistics.
The development comes as Nigeria’s newly operational large-scale refining capacity, led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, gradually increases output and alters import patterns across West Africa. While the refinery is still in a ramp-up phase, industry analysts say its growing supply of refined products is beginning to compete more directly with imported cargoes traditionally sourced from Europe and other global refining centres.
However, the scale and stability of this shift remain subject to operational performance, crude supply arrangements, and domestic distribution constraints. Nigeria continues to face infrastructure limitations, including insufficient storage depots and reliance on road haulage, which affect the efficiency of internal fuel movement and can encourage offshore routing through regional hubs.
The use of Lomé as a trading and storage intermediary is also seen by some market participants as a reflection of ongoing bottlenecks in Nigeria’s downstream logistics network, rather than a full displacement of traditional import channels.
Policy measures such as the government’s “naira-for-crude” arrangement, under which domestic refineries purchase crude oil in local currency are aimed at improving feedstock access and supporting local refining operations. Nonetheless, industry stakeholders note that exposure to exchange rate volatility and global freight costs continues to influence export economics.
Analysts caution that while West Africa’s fuel import dependence could gradually ease if domestic refining capacity is sustained and expanded, the transition is likely to be uneven. Pricing dynamics will remain tied to global crude benchmarks, shipping costs, and refinery reliability.
Overall, the data underscores an emerging but still evolving reconfiguration of regional petroleum trade flows, with Nigeria’s refining sector positioned to play a larger role in West Africa’s fuel supply chain, contingent on infrastructure and policy consistency.
