Nigeria Imports 15bn Litres of Petrol Despite Dangote Refinery Output
Nigeria has reportedly imported over 15 billion litres of petrol in the past year, despite the commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery, raising fresh concerns about the country’s energy dependency and fuel supply chain structure.
According to data from industry regulators and independent market trackers, the bulk of the imported fuel came through offshore suppliers under the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement, even as the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery continues to ramp up production.
Insiders within the oil sector attribute the sustained importation to transitional supply gaps, incomplete local distribution agreements, and the refinery’s gradual move toward full operational capacity. While the Dangote facility has started producing diesel, aviation fuel, and naphtha, its petrol output has yet to fully meet national demand.
Officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) explained that the imported volumes were necessary to stabilize the market and prevent scarcity as local refining gradually expands.
An energy analyst, Dr. Bala Zaka, said the continued importation underscores Nigeria’s structural challenges in fuel production, logistics, and pricing.
“It’s a paradox that Africa’s biggest oil producer still relies heavily on imported refined products,” Zaka said. “The government must ensure that local refining is not undermined by policy inconsistencies or vested interests.”
Meanwhile, the Dangote Group maintains that its refinery is operating at an accelerated pace, with plans to fully meet Nigeria’s petrol needs once government approvals for local blending and supply integration are finalized.
Observers note that achieving full local sufficiency will require not just refinery output but also improved infrastructure for storage, distribution, and regulatory coordination.
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