The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has approved fresh imports of petrol and diesel for the third quarter of 2026 as part of efforts to prevent potential fuel shortages across the country.
The approvals, covering the July to September period, were granted to several downstream operators following concerns over declining fuel inventories and reduced petrol production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, according to a report by global energy intelligence firm Argus Media.
The move highlights the government’s continued reliance on imports to complement local refining capacity and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply nationwide.
According to the report, major downstream firms including AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono Energy, Nipco, Matrix Energy and Pinnacle Oil received permits to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, during the third quarter.
The same companies, except Nipco, were also granted approvals to import Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel.
The latest approvals come after an earlier batch of petrol import permits issued in May, which covered approximately 720,000 metric tonnes of fuel.
Industry sources cited in the report disclosed that many of the companies granted the latest permits had also received approvals during previous allocation rounds.
According to the report, AA Rano and Matrix Energy each secured approval to import 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol, while AYM Shafa received approval for 120,000 metric tonnes.
Pinnacle Oil was granted a permit covering 150,000 metric tonnes of petrol imports.
For diesel imports, AYM Shafa received approval for 60,000 metric tonnes, while Pinnacle Oil obtained a permit for 45,000 metric tonnes.
Sources familiar with the process indicated that the approvals were issued after delays from the original June 15 target date.
A regulatory source quoted in the report stated that the permits were approved to address projected fuel supply gaps in the domestic market.
According to the source, the total volume of petrol import approvals is expected to exceed 800,000 metric tonnes once the process is completed.
If achieved, the volume would surpass the quantity approved under the second-quarter import programme.
The approvals come at a time when fuel inventories are showing signs of tightening.
Data referenced in the report showed that petrol stock sufficiency in Nigeria declined by 1.7 days to 16 days in May, while diesel stock sufficiency dropped by eight days to 31 days during the same period.
Industry analysts note that falling stock levels often trigger precautionary regulatory measures aimed at maintaining market stability and preventing shortages.
The report linked the decline in fuel inventories partly to lower gasoline production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to data cited by Argus Media, petrol production at the refinery fell by 16 per cent to 44.7 million litres per day, while diesel production increased by four per cent to 24.5 million litres daily.
Market participants attributed the decline in petrol output to maintenance work on the refinery’s Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker, one of its key gasoline-producing units.
Sources close to the refinery reportedly described claims linking increased exports of low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil and ongoing maintenance activities as partially accurate but declined to provide further details.
The refinery did not respond to requests for comment, according to the report.
Meanwhile, recent declines in global fuel prices are expected to improve import economics for independent marketers.
Argus Media reported that front-month Eurobob oxy swaps, a key benchmark for gasoline trading in West Africa, averaged $946.25 per tonne in June, compared with $1,128.50 per tonne in May.
Similarly, offshore Lomé ship-to-ship diesel prices averaged $1,093.50 per tonne in June, down from $1,409.25 per tonne during the previous month.
The lower international prices are expected to make fuel imports more attractive and financially viable for marketers seeking to supplement domestic supply.
Despite the approvals, however, industry data suggests that marketers may not fully utilise all allocated import volumes.
Preliminary vessel-tracking data from Kpler cited in the report indicated that independent marketers are expected to import approximately 354,000 metric tonnes of petrol during the current quarter.
This is significantly lower than the 720,000 metric tonnes approved under the second-quarter permit programme.
Industry sources attributed the gap partly to the timing of permit issuance, noting that marketers had limited time to finalise import arrangements after receiving approvals.
The report also projected that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery could import approximately 257,000 metric tonnes of gasoline during the current quarter.
Although the refinery operates as a free-zone enterprise and does not require import permits to source foreign products, regulatory approval from the NMDPRA remains necessary before imported cargoes can be discharged into the Nigerian market.
The latest approvals underscore the continued importance of fuel imports in Nigeria’s energy supply chain despite growing domestic refining capacity.
While the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has significantly reduced the country’s dependence on imported fuel since commencing local supply operations, industry stakeholders maintain that imports remain necessary whenever domestic production falls below demand or refinery maintenance affects output.
The NMDPRA has consistently maintained that import licences are issued only when required to guarantee energy security, sustain adequate stock levels and prevent fuel scarcity.
The latest approvals reflect ongoing efforts by regulators to balance domestic refining ambitions with the need to maintain stable and reliable fuel supplies across the country.
