Nigeria's petrol imports saw a sharp rebound in May 2026, increasing by 59.5% compared to the previous month. This surge occurred despite an increase in output from the country's domestic refineries, as reported by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Data from the NMDPRA's Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Statistics indicates that average daily imports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, rose to 5.9 million litres per day in May. This is up from 3.7 million litres per day recorded in April, with oil marketers supplementing local supplies through imported products.
The overall supply of petrol in Nigeria recorded a 6.8% increase in May, reaching 47.4 million litres per day, compared to 44.4 million litres per day in April. Domestic refineries were the primary source of this supply.
However, crude oil deliveries to these domestic refineries experienced a decline. In May, refiners received an average of 578,000 barrels of crude oil per day, a 5.6% decrease from the 612,000 barrels per day received in April.
Private refineries played a dominant role in Nigeria's fuel supply. The Dangote Refinery supplied 41.5 million litres per day in May, a slight increase from 40.7 million litres per day in April, operating at an average capacity utilisation rate of 101.25%.
Other refineries also reported significant capacity utilisation: WalterSmith Refinery at 65.31%, Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals at 91.66%, and Aradel Refinery at 62.94%. Notably, the NNPC-owned Warri and Kaduna refineries remained inactive, with zero production despite ongoing rehabilitation efforts.
Analysis of NMDPRA supply data for the first five months of 2026 shows a general trend of declining petrol imports as domestic refining capacity strengthened, despite month-to-month variations. Imported petrol volumes have decreased by approximately 76% from January to May 2026, falling from 24.8 million litres per day to 5.9 million litres per day.
This shift reflects the expanding role of private investment in Nigeria's refining sector and a structural transformation in the country's fuel supply chain.
