Nigeria Petrol Imports Surge 59.5% Amid Refinery Constraints

Nigeria saw a 59.5% surge in daily petrol imports during May 2026, rising from 3.7 million to 5.9 million litres. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority indicates this spike occurred despite a 9.4% decline in total daily petrol consumption to 46.3 million litres.

The increase in imports followed a 5.6% drop in crude oil deliveries to domestic refineries, which fell to 578,000 barrels per day. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals Fze reportedly reduced its gasoline-producing unit's operating rate by 34% due to technical issues and insufficient feedstock, although it continued to supply 41.5 million litres of petrol daily to the local market without exporting any output.

While petrol imports rose, other sectors showed domestic growth. Diesel imports fell to zero as domestic production increased by 121.2%, with modular refineries including Aradel Holdings, Edo Refinery, and WalterSmith contributing to the supply. Aviation fuel supply also grew by 38.5%, while liquefied petroleum gas supply declined by 8.9%.

The surge in imports has sparked a dispute between the government and the private sector. Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals Fze argues that unrestricted imports undermine local investment, while the regulator maintains that imports are necessary to prevent a monopoly and ensure national energy security.