RismadarVoice Reporters, June 18, 2026
Nigeria recorded a sharp increase in petrol imports in May 2026, with import volumes rising by 59.5 per cent month-on-month despite continued growth in domestic refining capacity, according to data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The latest Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Statistics showed that average daily imports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, increased from 3.7 million litres per day in April to 5.9 million litres per day in May.
The rise in imports came as crude oil supply to local refineries declined. Crude receipts by domestic refineries fell from 612,000 barrels per day in April to 578,000 barrels per day in May, representing a 5.6 per cent decrease.
Despite the drop in crude supply, total petrol availability in the country increased from 44.4 million litres per day in April to 47.4 million litres per day in May, an increase of 6.8 per cent.
Domestic refineries remained the major source of supply, contributing 41.5 million litres daily in May, compared to 40.7 million litres in April. Imported petrol accounted for the remaining 5.9 million litres per day.
The figures indicate that while local refining continues to dominate fuel supply, imported products are still being used to bridge short-term supply gaps, particularly when refinery feedstock becomes constrained.
An analysis of the first five months of 2026 shows significant progress in reducing dependence on imported fuel. Petrol imports dropped from 24.8 million litres per day in January to 5.9 million litres per day in May, representing a decline of about 76 per cent.
Over the same period, domestic refinery contributions increased from 40.1 million litres per day to 41.5 million litres per day. As a result, locally refined products accounted for nearly 88 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol supply in May, up from about 62 per cent in January.
The report also revealed strong performance in diesel production. Daily diesel supply rose by 84.3 per cent, increasing from 10.2 million litres in April to 18.8 million litres in May. Notably, all diesel supplied during the month came from domestic sources, as imports fell to zero.
Aviation fuel also recorded growth, with daily supply increasing from 2.6 million litres to 3.6 million litres, representing a 38.5 per cent rise.
However, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, experienced a decline. Supply dropped from 4.5 kilotonnes per day in April to 4.1 kilotonnes per day in May.
The NMDPRA data further showed a reduction in fuel consumption. Average daily petrol consumption fell from 51.1 million litres in April to 46.3 million litres in May, representing a 9.4 per cent decrease. Diesel consumption also declined from 17.3 million litres per day to 16 million litres per day.
Fuel inventory levels also tightened during the review period. Petrol stock sufficiency declined from 17.7 days in April to 16 days in May, while diesel stock sufficiency dropped from 39 days to 31 days.
The increase in petrol imports comes amid reports of feedstock and operational challenges at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Industry reports indicated that the refinery reduced output from its gasoline-producing unit in late May due to feedstock constraints and technical issues.
Stakeholders have continued to stress that consistent crude oil supply to domestic refineries remains critical to Nigeria’s ambition of achieving fuel self-sufficiency. They argue that without stable feedstock availability, imported petrol will continue to supplement local production during periods of refinery disruptions or maintenance.
