Petrol imports rebounded in May 2026 as NNPC and the Dangote refinery together brought in about 38,000 barrels a day, regulator data shows. The figure signals that imported fuel still plays a role even as local refining now covers most of Nigeria’s needs.
According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NNPC accounted for roughly 11,000 barrels a day and Dangote about 27,000 barrels a day of the imported volume during the month.
Petrol imports rise as total supply climbs
Total petrol supply averaged 47.4 million litres a day in May, up from 44.4 million litres a day in April. Of that, about 41.5 million litres a day came from domestic production, while imports made up roughly 5.9 million litres a day. Industry trackers put the month-on-month jump in imported volumes at close to 60 percent.
The numbers confirm a clear rebound after a quieter April, and they show how the market now blends local output with a smaller, flexible layer of imports to keep stations supplied.
Dangote refinery does the heavy lifting
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplied about 87.55 percent of Nigeria’s petrol in May, effectively all of the domestically produced volume. The 650,000-barrel-a-day plant produced an average of 44.7 million litres of petrol a day, running at slightly above its rated capacity.
The refinery has reshaped the downstream market since ramping up. Diesel imports reportedly fell to zero during the month, a milestone for a country that long depended on foreign fuel cargoes to keep its economy moving.
The import-versus-local debate
The continued imports sit at the centre of a live dispute. NNPC has argued in a Lagos court that Dangote’s petrol prices are high and fluctuating, and that import competition should remain to protect consumers. The regulator has granted import licences to six firms, including NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix Energy, Shafa Energy, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, and Bono Energy.
There is nuance on the local-refining side too. The Dangote plant still imports some crude and gasoline blendstock to produce finished petrol, so even “domestic” output relies partly on foreign feedstock. That detail matters for anyone weighing how self-sufficient Nigeria’s fuel supply has truly become.
Pump prices and the consumer
For ordinary Nigerians, the figures behind the supply mix matter mainly at the pump. Steady availability has helped ease the long fuel queues that once disrupted daily life, while the pricing tussle between local refining and imports shapes how much drivers ultimately pay.
Transport costs feed directly into the price of food and other goods, so fuel stability carries weight far beyond the filling station. Analysts say the challenge now is to keep both supply and prices steady, even as crude markets and exchange rates shift through the rest of the year.
Why it matters
Fuel supply touches every corner of the Nigerian economy, from transport fares to the cost of food. A reliable mix of local production and modest imports can steady the pumps and ease the queues that once defined daily life in many cities.
The May figures suggest a market finding its balance. Local refining now anchors supply, while imports act as a buffer that fills gaps and keeps prices in check. For motorists and businesses, the key question is whether that balance can hold steady through the rest of 2026, keeping fuel both available and affordable nationwide.
