Nigeria has taken delivery of about 164,000 metric tonnes of imported petroleum products, with several fuel-laden vessels scheduled to discharge cargo across major seaports in the country.

Data from shipping records showed that the shipments include roughly 82,000 tonnes of diesel and about 81,882 tonnes of petrol, all brought in under licences issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) NMDPRA.

The cargoes are expected to be offloaded at key terminals in Lagos, Delta, and Cross River. Lagos remains the busiest hub, with multiple vessels docking at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal.

According to the report, several ships carrying diesel have already arrived in Lagos, including vessels that berthed between May 8 and May 9 with varying volumes of cargo. Additional deliveries are expected to continue through the week as discharge operations progress.

For petrol imports, vessels are also arriving at different terminals, including locations in Warri and Calabar, further strengthening supply distribution across the country.

Industry operators say the inflow of imported fuel could help improve product availability nationwide, especially for diesel and petrol distribution. However, opinions remain divided, as some stakeholders argue that continued importation undermines local refining efforts.

The development comes shortly after the NMDPRA issued import licences to several marketers, including major players in the downstream sector, for a combined volume of about 720,000 metric tonnes of petrol.

The agency has maintained that importation is not restricted, explaining that Nigeria’s fuel supply strategy relies on both domestic refining and imports to ensure stability in the market.

The situation has also revived debate around the role of local refining, particularly the operations of the Dangote Group and its refinery project, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which is expected to play a major role in meeting domestic demand.

Despite claims that local production could reduce dependence on imports, officials insist that maintaining multiple supply sources is necessary to avoid fuel shortages and ensure steady nationwide distribution.