Nigeria may resume the issuance of petrol and diesel import permits as early as mid-February 2026, marking the first approvals of the year. The move comes after a temporary halt by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) aimed at limiting imports to cover shortfalls in domestic refinery output.
According to industry sources quoted by Argus, NMDPRA is expected to begin approving new import licences later this month or by early March at the latest. The regulatory pause was partly linked to leadership changes at the authority, following the exit of former Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed on December 17, 2025.
Sources indicated that the leadership transition had affected internal decision-making, slowing permit approvals during the early part of the year. Resuming the issuance of import permits is expected to help avert potential fuel supply tightness across the country.
The upcoming approvals will allow importers to align supplies with domestic demand and support stability in the nation’s downstream petroleum sector.
