NMDPRA Grants Six Petrol Import Permits to Stabilise Market

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has granted import permits for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol to six depot owners and petroleum marketers.

This step comes as the federal government moved to ensure stability and balance in the country’s downstream fuel sector after it was widely reported that the country suspended the issuance of petrol import licenses for a second straight month

The regulator recently issued these permits to six importers, with each authorised to import approximately 30,000 metric tonnes of the fuel into the country to help cushion against the effects of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

This development also occurs against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about supply concentration, with recent data showing that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplied roughly 92 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol in February.

At present, the Dangote refinery is the sole facility in Nigeria producing petrol, while most modular refineries primarily focus on diesel output.

The Crude Oil Refineries Association of ​Nigeria (CORAN) also confirmed that none have been issued so far in March, signalling ​a shift towards prioritising local output. However, this has since changed, spurred by the latest development.

Industry statistics show that local refining provided an average of about 36.5 million litres per day that month, with imports adding roughly 3 million litres daily, resulting in a total supply of around 39.5 million litres per day.

According to reports, until recently, no petrol import permits had been issued under the current NMDPRA leadership, suggesting that the new approvals signal a deliberate policy shift to preserve supply diversity and adaptability as the domestic market continues to develop.

Nigeria’s average daily petrol consumption fell to 56.9 million litres per day ​in February 2026, ​down from 60.2 ⁠million litres in January.

In February, the Dangote Refinery supplied 36.5 million litres of petrol and 8 million litres of ​diesel to the local market, leaving a daily deficit of 20 million litres that was covered by previously imported stock.

According to NMDPRA, these volumes ​were sufficient, ⁠leading to its earlier decision to withhold import licenses.