The ambitious supply arrangement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is facing significant hurdles, as the refinery recorded a crude oil shortfall of about 79.53 million barrels between October 2025 and mid-March 2026.
Findings revealed that the Lekki-based facility, which requires approximately 19.77 million barrels of crude monthly to operate at full capacity, received far lower volumes within the review period. Data sourced from a senior management official within the refinery highlighted persistent supply gaps that have affected operations.
According to the source, the situation contradicts provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, which prioritise meeting domestic crude demand before export. The official stressed that despite the refinery’s needs, the country—through NNPC—continued exporting crude oil.
A breakdown of the supply figures shows that the refinery received 4.55 million barrels in October, 6.45 million barrels in November, 4.30 million barrels in December, 5.65 million barrels in January, and 4.66 million barrels in February. In March, only 3.6 million barrels were delivered between the 1st and 15th.
The development has raised concerns about the sustainability of refinery operations and the broader implications for Nigeria’s energy security. Industry stakeholders warn that continued shortfalls could undermine the refinery’s capacity to meet domestic fuel demand and stabilise the downstream sector.
Efforts to resolve the supply constraints are expected to intensify as the government pushes to strengthen local refining and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
