Nigeria’s claims of nearing energy self-sufficiency have come under renewed scrutiny after the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, confirmed that the country still depends on imported petroleum products.
Speaking at the CERAWeek by S&P Global Conference in Houston, Lokpobiri acknowledged that although local refining capacity has improved significantly, it remains insufficient to meet Nigeria’s total fuel demand.
The minister’s remarks clarify the current realities of the downstream sector, contrasting with growing expectations that increased domestic refining would eliminate the need for imports. He noted that while Nigeria is making measurable progress, local production alone cannot yet sustain national consumption levels.
“We are not yet at a point where local production alone can satisfy total consumption,” Lokpobiri said, stressing the importance of maintaining imports as a key component of the country’s fuel supply mix.
According to him, Nigeria consumes approximately 50 million litres of fuel daily, while domestic refining output remains below that figure. This gap, he explained, makes continued importation necessary to ensure supply stability across the country.
Despite the shortfall, the minister highlighted ongoing improvements in refining capacity, expressing optimism that Nigeria will gradually reduce its reliance on imports as local production continues to expand.
His comments come amid broader efforts to strengthen the country’s energy sector and achieve long-term sustainability through increased domestic refining and infrastructure development.
