Nigeria imported 15 billion litres of petrol between August 2024 and October 2025, according to official data, highlighting the country’s continued dependence on foreign fuel even after the Dangote refinery began local production.
Figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) show that of the 21.68 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supplied during the period, 15.01 billion litres (69%) were imported. The remaining 6.67 billion litres (31%) came from domestic refining, primarily from the Dangote refinery which started petrol production in September 2024.
The data reveals a clear trend: while imports are declining, they still dominate the market. In August 2024, imports averaged 54.30 million litres per day. By the first 10 days of October 2025, that figure had fallen to 15.11 million litres per day.
Conversely, local production has been steadily rising. From 6.43 million litres per day in September 2024, domestic output peaked at 22.66 million litres per day in January 2025. By October 2025, the Dangote refinery was producing an average of 18.93 million litres per day, finally exceeding import levels for that month.
The report also indicates a significant drop in the country’s average daily petrol consumption, falling from over 60 million litres per day in late 2024 to around 34 million litres per day by October 2025. This shift follows the government’s removal of the costly petrol subsidy in September 2024.
Despite the Dangote refinery’s capacity to meet local demand and even export fuel, competition from importers remains stiff. The refinery has publicly challenged marketers to bring more trucks for loading, boasting of having over 310 million litres of petrol in stock.
The data underscores a pivotal transition for Nigeria—from a nation almost entirely reliant on imported fuel to one gradually increasing its self-sufficiency, though the journey to full energy independence is still underway.
