Nigerians consumed about 613.62 million litres of petrol between October 2024 and October 10, 2025, despite rising local refining activities, according to new data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The report revealed that imports still dominated supply, accounting for 377.54 million litres (about 63%), while local refineries, led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, supplied 236.08 million litres (37%). The data also showed steady growth in domestic production, which nearly doubled from 9.62 million litres per day in October 2024 to 18.93 million litres per day by October 2025, while imports fell by about 67% within the same period.
Monthly figures indicated that petrol imports declined sharply from 46.38 million litres in October 2024 to 15.11 million litres by October 2025, while local output maintained a consistent upward trend. Analysts say this shift marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward fuel self-sufficiency, with Dangote Refinery contributing up to 20 million litres daily to national consumption.
The data also showed that total daily petrol supply averaged 46.6 million litres, made up of 29.5 million litres from imports and 17.1 million litres from domestic refineries. Experts believe the drop in fuel imports has helped ease pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves, cutting the billions spent annually on freight, insurance, and foreign exchange payments for refined products.
Commenting on the figures, Petroleum.ng CEO, Olatide Jeremiah, hailed the progress made in local refining but urged the government to ensure uninterrupted crude oil supply in naira to boost production and reduce pump prices. He noted that despite being Africa’s largest oil producer and home to its biggest refinery, Nigeria still imports about 60% of its petrol needs — a situation he described as “inconsistent with the country’s energy potential.”