Nigeria’s petrol import volumes fell sharply by 42.2% in January 2026, reaching 24.8 million litres per day, down from 42.8 million litres in December 2025, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The regulator’s report also highlighted that Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its domestic petrol supply by 25.3%, delivering 40.1 million litres per day in January, compared to 32 million litres in December. This brought the total daily petrol supply to 64.9 million litres, representing a 12.5% decline from December 2025.
The country recorded 33 days of petrol sufficiency during the month, aided by improved local production. While daily consumption averaged 60.2 million litres, the Dangote Refinery operated at 61.27% capacity, and the three federal government-owned refineries remained shut.
Meanwhile, Winters-mith Refining and Petrochemical Company in Imo State has begun crude oil test runs on Phase Two of its refinery, which aims to expand capacity from 5,000 to 50,000 barrels per day. NMDPRA confirmed the facility has commenced live operational testing, marking a key milestone for Nigeria’s modular refinery sector.
Engr. Saidu Mohammed, NMDPRA Chief Executive, described the country’s downstream petroleum sector as experiencing “an irreversible renaissance” driven by regulatory reforms, investments, and the Petroleum Industry Act, which has fully liberalised the market. He noted that Dangote Refinery is a “major game changer,” reducing import-related fiscal losses by over N6 trillion and improving energy security.
The developments signal progress in domestic refining, potentially reducing dependence on imports, easing foreign exchange pressures, and boosting the local supply of diesel and petrol for industrial and consumer use.
