Nigeria imported 69 per cent of the total national supply of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, in 15 months despite local production by Dangote Refinery.
Data obtained from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows that between August 2024 and October 10, 2025, the country imported about 15.01 billion litres of petrol.
It would be recalled that the Dangote refinery started petrol production in September 2024.
The total national supply of petrol for the period was put at 21.68 billion litres. Only 6.67 billion litres, or 31 per cent of that volume, was sourced locally.
NMDPRA’s report, titled Import vs Domestic Supply Performance (PMS Daily Average Supply – August 2024 to October 2025), showcased how the gradual rise in local production and a corresponding drop in imports.
The report showed that an average of 44.60 million litres of petrol were imported per day in August 2024.
The figure surged to 54.30 million litres per day in September 2024, which marked the the peak of import dependence during the period under review.
The report indicated that the imports began to decline, dropping to 24.15 million litres per day by January 2025.
By September of this year, it had dropped further to 19.26 million litres per day.
In the first ten days of this month, it dropped even further to 15.11 million litres per day.
The report indicated that the drop in imports corresponded with the steady increase in the share of the market by the Dangote refinery.
Recall that the local refinery has faced stiff competition from petrol importers, who are fighting frantically to retain their business.
They have variously accused Aliko Dangote of trying to stifle competition by consistently slashing the prices of his products.
Dangote refinery produced an average of 18.93 million litres of petrol per day in October, exceeding imports for the month.
It has been a consistent growth of domestic refining capacity from 6.43 million litres per day in September 2024, to 22.66 million litres per day in January 2025 and 20 million litres per day in subsequent months.
Also of note in the report is the drop in the daily consumption from an average of 60.73 million litres per day in September 2024 to 51.57 million litres in July 2025.
By August of this year, it dropped even further to 41.86 million in August, 34.86 million in September and 34.04 million per day in the first 10 days of October 2025.
Also Read: Dangote Refinery cuts petrol price by N40 amid falling global oil rates
