Petrol imports into Nigeria rose by 96 percent in March, reaching 5.9 million litres, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This marks a sharp increase from the 3 million litres imported in February. Despite the Dangote Refinery contributing 34.2 million litres to domestic supply, total domestic production dipped from 36.5 million litres in February. The Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries remained non-operational during the period. Total petrol supply in March stood at 40.1 million litres, below the average daily demand of 52 million litres. Daily consumption also fell, dropping from 56.9 million litres in February to 47.3 million litres in March. For Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), total daily supply declined by 59 percent, from 24.8 million litres in February to 10.3 million litres in March. Of this, 6.4 million litres were imported and 3.9 million litres sourced locally. AGO consumption dropped from 20.3 million litres to 14.5 million litres. The NMDPRA report also revealed gas utilization levels: 0.485 Bscf/day for power, 0.601 Bscf/day for commercial use, and 0.430 Bscf/day for industrial purposes.
The surge in petrol imports to 5.9 million litres in March, even as the Dangote Refinery supplied all of Nigeria's 34.2 million litres of domestic petrol, exposes a critical gap between production capacity and national demand. With the country still relying on imports to supplement supply despite the refinery's full contribution, the idea of energy self-sufficiency remains distant.
The continued shutdown of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries underscores a deeper structural failure in Nigeria's energy planning. While the Dangote Refinery is performing, its output alone cannot meet demand, especially when total supply falls to 40.1 million litres against a 52 million litre daily requirement. The drop in consumption from 56.9 million litres to 47.3 million litres may reflect economic strain or distribution issues, not reduced need.
Ordinary Nigerians continue to bear the cost of this imbalance through inconsistent fuel availability and price volatility. Motorists and transport operators face uncertainty, while businesses dependent on generators absorb higher operational costs when supply falters.
This pattern reflects a recurring cycle: overreliance on a single private facility amid decades of public refinery neglect. Until Nigeria addresses the rot in its state-owned refineries and builds resilient supply chains, energy independence will remain aspirational.
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