Nigeria Spends ₦12.8 Trillion On Petrol Imports As Dangote Refinery Faces Clearance Delays
Between August 2024 and October 2025, Nigeria imported ₦12.8 trillion worth of PMS (petrol), totaling 15.435 billion litres, with an average landing cost of ₦829.77 per litre, according to NMDPRA data. Local supply, sourced solely from the Dangote Refinery, amounted to 7.2 billion litres during the same period. Despite the Dangote Refinery's production, Nigeria remains heavily reliant on imported PMS. The refinery's CEO cited vessel clearance delays as disrupting operations, requesting government support to facilitate crude imports and product lifting. Experts warn that banning PMS imports prematurely could create a monopoly and undermine energy security, emphasizing the need for diversified refining capacity. One expert noted that the local refinery cannot continue reducing PMS prices unless supported by favorable international market conditions.
