Petrol Leads Nigeria’s Imports with Over 613 Million Litres in One Year
Nigeria imported 377.54 million litres of petrol in the past year, with domestic refineries supplying 236.08 million litres. Explore how Dangote Refinery is reshaping the nation’s fuel supply.
October 21, 2025
Reported by Chidera H. Paul – Energy & Commodity Trading Desk
Nigerians consumed a total of 613.62 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), widely known as petrol, for transportation, power generation, and other domestic purposes from October 2024 to 10th October 2025, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Despite efforts to increase output at local refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, imported petrol continued to dominate the country’s fuel supply. Of the total consumption, 236.08 million litres were produced domestically, while 377.54 million litres were imported, indicating that imports accounted for roughly 63 percent of PMS demand. Local refineries supplied the remaining 37 percent, representing a notable improvement over the previous year.
NMDPRA figures show that domestic production nearly doubled within the year, rising from 9.62 million litres per day in October 2024 to 18.93 million litres per day by October 2025. Conversely, petrol imports fell sharply from 46.38 million litres per day to 15.11 million litres per day, a 67 percent decline.
A month-by-month breakdown revealed a consistent reduction in imports alongside steady growth in local production. Imports declined from 46.38 million litres in October 2024 to 36.39 million litres in November, then to 38.90 million litres in December. By January 2025, import volumes had dropped further to 24.15 million litres, with minor fluctuations thereafter, including a temporary rise to 37.37 million litres in May, before reaching a year-low of 15.11 million litres by 10th October 2025.
Domestic production, on the other hand, showed steady gains, increasing from 9.62 million litres in October 2024 to 19.36 million litres in November, and 13.13 million litres in December. Production continued rising into 2025, exceeding 20 million litres per day in multiple months, before stabilizing at 18.93 million litres in October 2025.
Overall, total daily petrol supply averaged 46.6 million litres, with imports contributing 29.5 million litres and local refineries 17.1 million litres. The decline in imports has eased pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves, reducing the need for billions of dollars in letters of credit, freight, and insurance costs.
Analysts credit the Dangote Refinery’s full-scale production, which began in early 2025, for much of the improvement. The refinery now contributes between 15 and 20 million litres of PMS daily, reshaping the fuel supply structure and building confidence in domestic refining after decades of underperformance at state-owned facilities.
Olatide Jeremiah, CEO of Petroleum NG, noted that domestic refining capacity has made significant progress, with the Dangote Refinery supplying around 40 percent of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption. He emphasized the importance of uninterrupted access to crude oil in naira to further boost domestic output and lower fuel prices nationwide.
“Imports still dominate our refined products, but the progress made by domestic supply, particularly through Dangote Refinery, is significant,” he said. “Full access to crude will allow local refineries to meet more of our needs and reduce pump prices. Nigeria, as Africa’s largest crude producer with the continent’s biggest refinery, should not be importing about 60 percent of its fuel consumption.”
Jeremiah urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to implement policies ensuring domestic refineries secure adequate crude supply, describing this as the key to achieving both fuel availability and affordability.
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Ihe jasperI for one believe there's no truth in the present state of our government owned refineries. Government should throw the door wide open and reduce the unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles intending investors in oil downstream oil sectors have to deal with,. I also see some level of greed on the part of our oil marketers and the fact that they've been enjoying the role of importing the PMS is blinding their eyes to the need for refining all our oil products needed here . we export crude oil and only the basic kerosene,diesel and PMS return to us at a very high cost. Dangote being the only local refinery in Nigeria is a very dangerous path because exploitation will take place once that company consolidates on her investment and nigerian s would be charge unfairly. More indigenous people should be encouraged to invest in PMS refining. It doesn't have to be on a massive scale. There's need for competition and the environment should be favourable for investor confidence to be boosted through reasonable taxation, security to ensure amenities and workers are safe even our oil marketers can own refineries and the truth is, the excess could be exported because west Africa is a very market. Government has no business wasting our non-available resources on importation of oil products or trying to resurrect dead refineries that don't every produce enough funds to cover for its maintenance
