Oil marketers have defended the resumption of petrol and diesel import licences by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), saying the move is intended to close supply gaps and avert fuel shortages.
According to industry operators, local refineries are currently unable to meet Nigeria’s full domestic fuel demand, making controlled importation necessary to stabilise supply. They stressed that the decision is not aimed at undermining the Dangote Petroleum Refinery but reflects present market realities, particularly as the facility undergoes a major expansion.
Marketers said supply availability and predictability remain the most critical factors in the downstream petroleum market. In their view, a carefully managed and transparent import window helps keep the market liquid while domestic refineries scale up operations and achieve stability.
Industry stakeholders noted that importation has become unavoidable because the Dangote Refinery is still in an upgrade phase and cannot yet supply the country’s fuel needs consistently. An energy expert and major downstream operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the ongoing expansion from 650,000 barrels per day to about 1.4 million barrels per day could take up to three years to complete.
“Dangote is not producing at full capacity at the moment. The refinery is working with semi-finished products and blending to achieve finished output. Until the expansion is completed, it cannot realistically meet Nigeria’s entire demand,” the source said, adding that without complementary imports, the country risks fuel scarcity.
Another oil marketer, Ibrahim Gambo, described the resumption of import licences as a timely and strategic intervention. He said it should be seen as a gap-management measure rather than a reversal of Nigeria’s domestic refining policy, warning that the downstream market must not be allowed to run dry.
Speculation about renewed fuel importation had intensified following reports that Nigeria could resume issuing petrol and diesel import permits as early as mid-February 2026. The planned approvals would be the first import licences issued in 2026 and would be limited to volumes required to cover shortfalls in domestic production.
The delay in issuing licences was partly linked to leadership changes at the NMDPRA after the exit of its former chief executive, Farouk Ahmed, on December 17, raising concerns about a potential tightening of fuel supply.
Further explaining the rationale, Gambo said Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption leaves little room for disruptions, regardless of how many refineries are in operation. He noted that demand remains constant even when refineries face maintenance downtime, logistics challenges or crude supply constraints.
In this context, importation serves as a buffer to prevent shortages, price spikes and supply shocks when domestic output falls short. Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has denied importing finished petrol, diesel or jet fuel, maintaining that it only brings in unfinished feedstocks which are processed locally into refined products.
Source: Nairametrics