Nigeria imported about 15.01 billion litres of premium motor spirit (petrol) between August 2024 and early October 2025, accounting for roughly 69% of the total national petrol supply during this 15-month period. This is despite the commencement of local production at the Dangote Refinery in September 2024, which has significantly boosted domestic refining capacity.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows that the total petrol supply was 21.68 billion litres, with about 6.67 billion litres (31%) produced locally. The Dangote Refinery, with an installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and currently operating at approximately 85% capacity, has been producing around 20 million litres of petrol daily.
Imported petrol volumes peaked at 54.3 million litres per day in September 2024 the month Dangote began supplying the market but declined sharply to 24.15 million litres in January 2025 and further dropped to about 15.11 million litres by early October 2025. Meanwhile, the refinery’s output rose from 6.43 million litres per day in September 2024 to 22.66 million litres in January 2025 before stabilizing near 20 million litres in recent months.
While local refining efforts have substantially reduced Nigeria’s dependence on petrol imports, the country still relies on imported petrol to meet a significant portion of its domestic demand. This is partly due to the national daily fuel consumption rate estimated at about 65 million litres.
The data underscores a gradual but steady transition towards increased local production. Nigeria continues to balance imports and domestic refinery outputs as it works toward fuller self-sufficiency in fuel supply.
Nonetheless, the Dangote Refinery has been instrumental in saving billions in foreign exchange and lowering retail prices, reflecting the ongoing shift in Nigeria’s petroleum supply landscape.