Nigeria's petrol imports nearly doubled in March despite local supply growth
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Nigeria's petrol imports surged by 96.7% in March 2026, rising from 3.0 million litres per day in February to 5.9 million litres per day, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA. This increase occurred even as domestic petrol supply also grew, from 30.5 million litres per day to 34.2 million litres per day, driven by local refiners like the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Overall, total daily petrol supply saw a marginal increase from 39.5 million litres to 40.1 million litres. Despite the near doubling of imports, domestic supply continued to account for the majority of the market, highlighting the growing role of local refiners in stabilizing Nigeria's downstream sector. The data also indicated a decline in petrol consumption, dropping from 56.9 million litres per day in February to 47.3 million litres per day in March, possibly due to higher product prices, including an increase by the Dangote refinery to N1,275 per litre in March. Petrol stock sufficiency also fell from 30.7 days to 21.2 days. The NMDPRA had previously restricted new import licenses to prioritize local products but later reinstated them to prevent supply disruptions. Additionally, diesel supply decreased significantly, while LPG supply remained stable with increased domestic contribution. Domestic gas supply also saw a slight rise. The Waltersmith Refinery's second train has begun hydrocarbon introduction, further expanding Nigeria's refining capacity
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