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Nigeria Tops Petrol Imports with 613.6 Million Litres in One Year
Nigerians consumed a total of 613.62 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, between October 2024 and October 10, 2025, for transportation, power generation, and domestic use.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows that despite increased operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other domestic plants, imported petrol still accounted for the majority of the country’s fuel supply during the period. Of the total consumption, 236.08 million litres were supplied by local refineries, while 377.54 million litres were imported, representing about 63 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol needs. Local refineries contributed the remaining 37 per cent, marking notable improvement from previous years.
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Domestic production rose steadily from 9.62 million litres per day in October 2024 to 18.93 million litres per day by October 2025, nearly doubling within one year. Meanwhile, import volumes fell sharply from 46.38 million litres per day in October 2024 to 15.11 million litres per day by October 2025, a 67 per cent decline.
Monthly data showed a gradual reduction in imports alongside increased domestic output. Imports decreased from 46.38 million litres in October 2024 to 36.39 million in November and 38.90 million in December. By January 2025, imports had dropped to 24.15 million litres, fluctuating slightly in the following months, before hitting a year-low of 15.11 million litres in October 2025.
Conversely, domestic refining output improved throughout the year, rising from 9.62 million litres in October 2024 to 19.36 million litres in November. Output remained above 20 million litres per day in several months, before stabilising at 18.93 million litres in October 2025.
Overall, Nigeria’s petrol supply averaged 46.6 million litres per day, with imports contributing 29.5 million litres and local refineries supplying 17.1 million litres. The decline in imports has helped ease pressure on foreign reserves, reducing the need for billions of dollars to settle letters of credit, freight, and insurance costs.
Analysts note that the improvement aligns with the first full year of operations at the Dangote Refinery, which now contributes between 15 and 20 million litres of PMS daily. Since its commissioning in May 2023, the refinery has helped reshape the country’s fuel supply structure, reduce foreign exchange exposure, and restore confidence in domestic refining after decades of underperformance at government-owned refineries.
Olatide Jeremiah, CEO of Petroleum.ng, said domestic refining capacity has made remarkable progress, with the Dangote Refinery now supplying about 40 per cent of daily petrol consumption. He emphasized the need for uninterrupted access to crude oil in naira to sustain growth and reduce pump prices.
“Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest crude producer with the continent’s biggest refinery, still imports about 60 per cent of its daily petrol needs. Strengthening policies to ensure local refineries have full access to domestic crude is essential for availability and affordability,” Jeremiah said.
