Nigeria exported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, valued at N105.5bn to Togo during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the country’s growing role as a supplier of refined petroleum products in West Africa.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics’ Foreign Trade Report for the first quarter of 2026 showed that petrol was among the leading petroleum products exported from Nigeria to the neighbouring country during the period.
The development marks a significant turnaround for Nigeria, which for years relied heavily on imported fuel due to insufficient domestic refining capacity. The rise in exports has been largely driven by increased production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has boosted local refining output and altered fuel trade patterns across the region.
Beyond petrol, Nigeria also recorded substantial exports of other petroleum products to Togo. Gas oil exports were valued at N278.36bn, while kerosene-type jet fuel shipments stood at N273.18bn. Crude oil exports reached N220.14bn, while partially refined petroleum products were worth N89.83bn.
Industry observers say the refinery’s growing output is reshaping regional fuel markets and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a major supplier of refined products.
Recent industry data also indicates that petroleum products refined at the Dangote refinery are increasingly being traded through Lomé, Togo’s offshore ship-to-ship transfer hub, before finding their way to destinations across West Africa, including Nigeria.
Speaking during a webinar organised by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, an official of S&P Global Commodity Insights, Matthew Tracey-Cook, said fuel produced by Dangote now accounts for a large share of petroleum products entering Nigeria through marine imports.
According to him, a significant proportion of fuel imported into Nigeria in recent months originated from the Dangote refinery and was routed through Lomé before returning to the country.
He noted that the trend has also become visible in the diesel market, underscoring the refinery’s growing influence on fuel supply chains within the sub-region.
Tracey-Cook explained that Lomé’s offshore terminal remains a vital logistics hub because it allows large vessels to discharge products for onward distribution by smaller ships to ports that cannot accommodate larger tankers.
The NBS figures also revealed that Nigeria’s petroleum exports extended beyond Togo, with Côte d’Ivoire receiving shipments of crude oil, petrol and gas oil during the quarter.
The latest trade data highlights Nigeria’s gradual emergence as a regional exporter of refined petroleum products following decades of dependence on fuel imports.
