The Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplied about 92 per cent of Nigeria’s daily petrol needs in February 2026, following a halt in the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), according to new data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Industry sources and fuel importers confirmed that the regulator has not issued any licences for petrol imports this year, citing sufficient domestic production. An NMDPRA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said local refining currently meets the country’s fuel demand, making imports unnecessary.
Figures contained in the regulator’s February 2026 fact sheet show that domestic refineries supplied an average of 36.5 million litres of petrol per day, while imports contributed just three million litres daily. This brought the total national supply to 39.5 million litres per day, with local refining accounting for the overwhelming majority.
At present, the Dangote refinery remains the only facility producing petrol in Nigeria, while other modular refineries mainly produce Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
The February data also shows a sharp decline in imports compared with January 2026, when oil marketing companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited imported about 24.8 million litres per day. Domestic refineries supplied 40.1 million litres daily during that period, pushing the total supply to 64.9 million litres.
According to the NMDPRA, the steep drop in imports led to a fall in overall fuel supply. The report noted that PMS supply declined by 25.4 million litres per day in February, representing a 39 per cent drop from January levels.
Historically, Nigeria has relied heavily on imported fuel. For instance, in December 2025, petrol imports averaged 42.2 million litres per day, compared with 32 million litres from domestic refineries. However, the ramp-up in output from the Dangote facility has gradually shifted the balance toward local refining.
Despite the development, some industry operators warn that reduced imports could create a monopoly in the downstream sector. One oil marketer said relying on a single refinery could limit competition and affect pricing, noting that imported petrol had previously been cheaper than locally refined products.
Meanwhile, petrol prices at filling stations remained high despite a reduction in the refinery’s gantry price. The Dangote refinery on Tuesday cut its petrol loading price by N100, from N1,175 to N1,075 per litre, citing a drop in global crude prices.
However, fuel stations in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja and other locations continued selling petrol between N1,200 and N1,330 per litre as of Tuesday evening, suggesting the price reduction had yet to reach consumers.