The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other fuel marketers imported over 633 million litres of petrol and diesel in January 2025, despite ongoing efforts to produce these fuels locally.
Recent reports show that NNPCL and its partners imported 458 million litres of petrol and 174 million litres of diesel within a few weeks. Some dealers explained that these imports were necessary to address local fuel shortages. However, others argue that the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery should be sufficient to meet the country’s fuel needs.
This reliance on imports raises questions about the effectiveness of local refineries, especially after the reopening of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. Despite claims that these refineries could reduce the need for imports, NNPCL continues to bring in fuel from abroad.
From January 1 to 29, NNPCL imported 212.87 million litres of petrol and 120.1 million litres of diesel. These shipments arrived at ports in Lagos, Calabar, and Warri.
Private marketers, including Bovas, A.A. Rano, and Matrix, also contributed to the fuel imports, bringing in a combined total of over 346 million litres. Matrix was the largest importer, bringing in 126.89 million litres.
Experts are puzzled by this continued reliance on imports, especially as the Port Harcourt refinery has yet to operate at full capacity. Chinedu Ukadike, a spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, noted that the refinery is still not producing at the level needed to meet the country’s demand for fuel.
