Despite the operational output of the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria imported nearly 69 per cent of its petrol consumption between August 2024 and October 2025, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The country imported approximately 15.01 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) out of a total national supply of 21.68 billion litres during the 15-month period. Only 6.67 billion litres, representing 31 per cent, were refined locally.
According to the report, Import vs Domestic Supply Performance (August 2024 – October 2025), domestic refining has shown gradual improvement since the Dangote Refinery commenced production in September 2024, though imports continue to dominate supply.
In August 2024, imported PMS averaged 44.60 million litres daily, peaking at 54.30 million litres the following month. However, by October 2025, imports had dropped sharply to 15.11 million litres per day, signaling the refinery’s growing impact on the local market.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery’s output climbed from 6.43 million litres per day in September 2024 to 22.66 million litres in January 2025, stabilizing around 20 million litres per day in subsequent months.
This shift has been accompanied by competition between the refinery and importers, with marketers accusing Dangote of price manipulation. Yet, refinery executives maintain that production levels are strong, with over 310 million litres of petrol currently in storage and available for local distribution.
In addition to meeting domestic demand, the refinery has also exported PMS, aviation fuel, and diesel to countries including Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Industry analysts say the data reflects a significant but incomplete transition toward fuel self-sufficiency, with local refining poised to reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape over the coming years.
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