Petrol imports remained Nigeria’s primary source of fuel supply in 2025, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total consumption, despite increased output from domestic refineries led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) show that Nigerians consumed about 18.97 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in 2025. Of this volume, oil marketers supplied 11.85 billion litres through imports, representing 62.47 percent of total demand, while domestic refineries contributed 7.54 billion litres, or 37.53 percent.
The figures, contained in the regulator’s latest midstream and downstream sector factsheet, highlight Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported fuel even after the country recorded its first full year of large-scale local petrol production following the start-up of the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery in late 2024.
Dangote refinery accounted for virtually all locally refined petrol in 2025, supplying between 17 million and 32 million litres daily, depending on the month. Total deliveries for the year stood at 7.54 billion litres, slightly below its annual supply benchmark of 7.2 billion litres due to operational ramp-up challenges earlier in the year.
Domestic supply strengthened toward year-end, with December recording the refinery’s highest output at 32 million litres per day and total monthly deliveries of 992 million litres. Still, imports continued to bridge supply gaps, accounting for about two-thirds of demand in December.
The NMDPRA attributed the sustained reliance on imports to factors such as gradual refinery ramp-up, crude supply constraints, logistics bottlenecks, and demand swings following the full deregulation of petrol pricing.
Consumption fluctuated throughout the year, rising from 1.60 billion litres in January to a peak of 1.97 billion litres in December, reflecting seasonal demand and pricing dynamics in the post-subsidy market.
Energy analysts say the data show meaningful progress but caution against claims that fuel imports have ended. They argue that while domestic refining has reduced Nigeria’s marginal dependence on imports, imported petrol still plays a critical role in stabilising supply, managing demand surges, and anchoring market prices.
The Federal Government expects import volumes to decline further if a proposed 15 percent import tariff on petrol takes effect, potentially accelerating the shift toward locally refined fuel.
