The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has resumed significant petrol imports, nearly a year after claiming it had stopped sourcing fuel from abroad, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
In November 2025, NNPC and other marketers imported 1.563 billion litres of petrol, averaging 52.1 million litres per day. This marked an 89% increase from October’s 828 million litres and pushed Nigeria’s total petrol supply to a record 71.5 million litres per day.
Despite the increase in supply, national petrol consumption fell to 52.9 million litres per day in November from 56.7 million litres in October, reflecting a slowdown in demand ahead of the festive season.
The surge in imports comes after months of low domestic supply, with the country’s three state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna remaining offline. The Port Harcourt refinery, for instance, did not produce any petrol in November, though it continued evacuating diesel stockpiled before its May 2025 shutdown.
The Dangote Refinery contributed to the domestic supply but fell short of expectations. While it planned to supply 35 million litres per day, actual petrol evacuation averaged 23.5 million litres, leaving a daily shortfall of over 11 million litres. Diesel output performed better at 5.6 million litres per day, supporting national diesel sufficiency.
NMDPRA noted that the November import spike was partly due to shipping delays, with 12 vessels scheduled for October discharging later in November. The regulator emphasized that the import surge was a deliberate effort to rebuild stock and ensure uninterrupted supply during the high-demand year-end period.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) called on authorities and oil companies to prioritise consistent and affordable fuel supply. IPMAN stressed that consumers need stable availability and prices, urging that imports remain an option when domestic production is insufficient.
