Six vessels carrying petrol and diesel valued at about N279bn have begun arriving at Nigerian ports, even as a legal tussle continues between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) over fuel importation approvals.
The shipments consist mainly of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and are being discharged across terminals in Lagos ports, including Apapa and Tincan Island, as well as a facility in Calabar. Port operations are expected to run through the middle of June.
According to shipping data from the Nigerian Ports Authority (Nigerian Ports Authority), five of the vessels are carrying petrol while one is transporting diesel. In total, the cargoes amount to over 200 million litres of refined petroleum products.
The combined volume is estimated at about 157,000 metric tonnes, with petrol making up the larger share. The deliveries are spread across multiple terminals and include both recently arrived vessels and others scheduled to berth in the coming days.
Based on prevailing gantry prices at the Dangote Refinery, the total value of the fuel cargoes is put at roughly N279bn, reflecting the high cost of refined products in the domestic market.
One of the largest consignments is being delivered by a tanker carrying about 45,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Apapa, while another major shipment of 37,000 metric tonnes is expected later in the week. A diesel vessel has already docked at a Tincan terminal.
The arrivals come as the downstream petroleum sector remains unsettled by a court case involving the Dangote Refinery and regulators over the issuance of import licences for refined fuel products.
The matter is currently before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division (Federal High Court, Lagos Division), where the refinery is seeking to restrict further fuel imports, arguing that continued importation undermines local refining efforts.
However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other industry stakeholders have opposed the request, insisting that imports are still necessary to maintain competition and prevent supply disruptions in the market.
The Dangote Refinery, which began large-scale operations in 2024, has steadily increased its refining capacity and positioned itself as a major supplier of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel in Nigeria and beyond.
As more fuel cargoes continue to arrive, the dispute highlights the ongoing tension between domestic refining ambitions and Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
