The Federal Government has halted the issuance of licences for petrol imports for the second consecutive month as local refining capacity continues to meet Nigeria’s fuel demand.

The development was disclosed by the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, in a post shared on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the decision reflects the government’s plan to prioritise petroleum products refined within the country while strengthening the domestic refining industry.

The presidency noted that increased output from local refineries is helping to supply the local market, reducing the need to bring in petrol from abroad.

It added that the move aligns with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which encourages the use of locally refined products before resorting to imports.

Under the law, petrol imports are only expected to be allowed when domestic refineries cannot produce enough fuel to satisfy national demand.

The government said the latest suspension signals its determination to rely more on Nigeria’s growing refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported fuel.