The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has approved permits covering approximately 830,000 metric tonnes of petrol imports for the fourth quarter of 2026, maintaining imported fuel as part of Nigeria’s supply mix despite increased domestic refining.
The permits cover Matrix Energy, A.A. Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy.
NMDPRA spokesperson George Ene-Ita confirmed the Q4 approvals, saying they were intended to prevent supply gaps heading into the critical end-of-year period.
The permits were reportedly issued on September 18, although the individual allocation to each marketer was not immediately disclosed.
Import Allocations Rise Through 2026
The six companies have featured prominently in Nigeria’s petrol import programme during 2026.
Their combined permits stood at approximately 180,000 metric tonnes in the first quarter before increasing to 720,000 metric tonnes in Q2.
The third-quarter allocation subsequently exceeded 800,000 metric tonnes, while the latest Q4 approvals total about 830,000 metric tonnes.
It is important to distinguish import permits from actual imports: an authorised volume does not necessarily establish that every tonne covered by a permit will ultimately enter Nigeria.
Imports Remain Despite Domestic Refining
The development comes as Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity continues to expand, led particularly by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
That creates a changing supply structure in which locally refined petrol increasingly competes with imported products.
The government and regulator face the challenge of ensuring adequate supply while encouraging the growth of domestic refining.
NMDPRA’s decision indicates that regulators are not yet relying exclusively on local production to meet anticipated demand.
End-of-year travel and commercial activity can increase pressure on fuel distribution, making the fourth quarter particularly sensitive to supply disruptions.
Dangote Dispute Adds Another Dimension
The import approvals also come against the backdrop of an ongoing legal dispute involving Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the regulator over the continued issuance of petroleum product import licences.
That dispute reflects a broader policy debate.
Domestic refiners want a commercially viable market for locally produced fuel, while regulators must also consider supply security, competition and consumer interests.
A market dominated entirely by one supplier could create competition concerns, but excessive imports could potentially weaken the economics of domestic refining.
Finding a balance between those objectives will become increasingly important as Nigeria’s refining industry develops.
Yuletide Supply in Focus
The latest approvals are particularly significant because they cover the Christmas and New Year period.
Historically, supply shortages during periods of increased travel can create queues, disrupt businesses and increase transportation costs.
Ensuring sufficient petrol availability therefore has implications beyond filling stations.
Fuel prices and availability affect road transportation, logistics, food distribution and operating costs across many parts of Nigeria’s economy.
The Q4 permits provide marketers with additional capacity to bring petrol into the country should domestic supply prove insufficient.
But the continued scale of import approvals is also likely to keep attention on how quickly Nigeria can transition towards meeting a larger share of its fuel demand from domestic refineries.
