Petrol imports surge despite rising local refining capacity — CPPE
Nigeria’s petrol imports rose sharply between May and July 2026, despite increased domestic refining capacity, raising fresh questions over the country’s transition away from dependence on imported fuel.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), citing data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said average daily petrol imports increased from 5.9 million litres in May to 18.1 million litres in June and 19.7 million litres in July — a 233.9 per cent increase over the period.
At the same time, domestic petrol supply fell from 41.5 million litres per day in May to 32.5 million litres in June and 25.8 million litres in July.
Consequently, imported petrol accounted for 43.3 per cent of total petrol receipts in July, compared with 12.4 per cent in May.
CPPE chief executive Muda Yusuf said the figures raise concerns about whether imports are being approved to address genuine supply shortages or are increasingly competing with available domestic production.
The organisation stressed that it is not calling for a complete ban on petrol imports, arguing that imports remain useful during refinery outages, demand spikes, quality gaps or when strategic stocks need replenishment.
However, CPPE wants NMDPRA to publish regular national supply-and-demand data showing domestic refinery output, inventories, consumption, committed deliveries and import volumes before approving major import licences.
The development is notable because Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity has expanded significantly, particularly with the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery. CPPE also cited NMDPRA data showing average domestic refinery capacity utilisation of 99.12 per cent in April.
The debate now centres on whether Nigeria’s growing refining capacity is translating into corresponding reductions in imports. CPPE warns that unnecessary imports could put additional pressure on foreign exchange, local refinery utilisation, jobs and the country’s broader industrialisation ambitions.
At the same time, the centre says domestic refiners must guarantee reliable crude supplies and compete on price, quality and volume, rather than relying solely on regulatory protection.
The central policy question, therefore, is whether petrol imports are filling genuine gaps in domestic supply — or beginning to undermine the very refining capacity Nigeria has invested heavily in developing.
