Nigeria imported about 15.01 billion litres of petrol between August 2024 and early October 2025 nearly 69 percent of total supply during the 15-month period even as the Dangote Refinery continues to ramp up production. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows that total petrol supply stood at 21.68 billion litres, with domestic refining contributing 6.67 billion litres.
The data revealed that while petrol imports peaked at 54.3 million litres per day in September 2024, they have since dropped to 15.1 million litres daily in October 2025. In contrast, local production rose from 6.4 million litres per day in September 2024 to 22.6 million litres in January 2025, averaging 20 million litres per day for most of 2025. The figures indicate a gradual but clear transition toward domestic refining dominance.
Vice President of Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, recently declared that the refinery has over 310 million litres of petrol in storage and challenged marketers to bring their trucks for loading. He emphasized that the refinery is capable of meeting both local demand and exports, noting that it continues to ship fuel abroad, including to the Middle East and the United States, where it recently supplied two cargoes of aviation fuel to Saudi Aramco.
Industry observers say the competition between petrol importers and the Dangote refinery has intensified, with some marketers accusing the company of undercutting prices to dominate the market. Despite the rivalry, the refinery’s operations have drastically altered Nigeria’s fuel supply dynamics, reducing import dependence and creating room for export growth.
According to NMDPRA Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery has “undoubtedly changed the supply dynamics,” contributing around 20 million litres daily to the local market. While Nigeria is not yet fully self-sufficient, the country appears to be entering a new era one defined by higher domestic output, fewer imports, and the possibility of finally ending its decades-long reliance on foreign petrol.