Nigeria has recorded a decline in petrol imports as local refineries increase production capacity.
According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), daily petrol imports fell from 44.6 million litres in August 2024 to 14.7 million litres as of April 13 2025.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NMDPRA, disclosed the development during a briefing with the Presidential Communications Team at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.
He attributed the drop to the improved performance of domestic refineries, including the Port Harcourt Refinery and several modular refineries operating across the country.
Local petrol production has risen by 670 percent since August 2024 as daily output now stands at 26.2 million litres compared to negligible volumes previously recorded.
This has reduced the nation’s reliance on imported fuel and marks a notable shift toward self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products.
Ahmed said the Port Harcourt Refinery, which resumed operations in November 2024, has been a key contributor to the production increase.
Combined with output from smaller indigenous refineries, the local sector is now meeting over half of the country’s estimated daily petrol demand of 50 million litres.
Despite the sharp decline in imports, overall fuel availability has remained stable. In November 2024, Nigeria’s total daily supply was 56 million litres.
This figure dropped to 52.3 million litres in February 2025 and 51.5 million litres in March before falling to 40.9 million litres in early April.
The CEO called on government agencies, traditional institutions, oil operators and local communities to support ongoing efforts to prevent vandalism and other threats to critical assets.
“It takes all of us—government, traditional institutions, companies and the youth—to collaborate and resist criminal activities that threaten our infrastructure”, Ahmed said.
He also reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency, accountability and efficiency in regulating Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
The sustained growth in local refining output aligns with the Federal Government’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and strengthen energy security.
