KEY POINTS
- Nigeria’s petrol consumption dropped to 56.9 million litres per day in February, down from 60.2 million litres in January, according to NMDPRA.
- Dangote Refinery is reshaping the fuel supply chain, reducing reliance on petrol imports and strengthening domestic supply.
- Petrol and diesel prices were reduced by Dangote Refinery, with petrol gantry price falling by ₦100 to ₦1,075 per litre.
Nigeria’s average daily consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, declined to 56.9 million litres per day in February 2026, down from 60.2 million litres per day recorded in January.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, disclosed the figures in its latest industry factsheet released on Tuesday.
The report highlights a shift in the country’s petrol supply pattern as domestic refining capacity begins to play a more significant role in meeting national demand.
Dangote Refinery Reshaping Fuel Supply
According to the regulatory authority, the country is witnessing a departure from the traditional structure where less than 20 percent of petrol supply came from local refineries.
The increasing influence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is now transforming the supply landscape. Its large-scale refining operations are gradually boosting domestic availability of fuel and reducing Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported petrol.
Industry analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Petroleumprice.ng, Jeremiah Olajide, said the inclusion of Dangote Refinery’s inventory in national supply calculations underscores its growing strategic importance.
He explained that the refinery is serving as a critical buffer for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, especially at a time when global fuel markets remain unstable.
For decades, Nigeria depended almost entirely on fuel imports due to the poor performance of government-owned refineries.
However, Olajide noted that the ramp-up in production from Dangote Refinery is beginning to change the country’s fuel supply chain by enabling domestic refining to meet a larger portion of national demand.
The NMDPRA also revealed that petrol imports fell sharply during the month, dropping by about 25.4 million litres per day as domestic supply improved.
As a result, Nigeria maintained approximately 31 days of petrol sufficiency stock in February, an indicator that the country’s fuel security is gradually strengthening.
The growing role of local refining is expected to further stabilise fuel availability across the country and reduce exposure to international supply disruptions.
