Nigeria’s Daily Petrol Imports Fall 26% to 14.6m Litres in August — NMDPRA
- September 25, 2026
Nigeria’s average daily petrol imports fell by 26 percent to 14.6 million litres in August 2026, down from 19.7 million litres per day recorded in July, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The figures were contained in the authority’s August 2026 State of the Midstream and Downstream Sector factsheet released on Thursday.
The decline in imports coincided with a significant increase in domestic petrol supply, as domestic Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) receipts rose by 39 percent from 25.8 million litres per day in July to 35.9 million litres per day in August.
As a result, domestic petrol receipts exceeded imports by 21.3 million litres per day during the month.
Total petrol receipts also increased by 11 percent, rising from 45.5 million litres per day in July to 50.5 million litres per day in August.
However, recorded petrol consumption declined by 14 percent, from 48.5 million litres per day in July to 41.5 million litres per day in August. NMDPRA said the consumption figure was based on volumes trucked out into the domestic market.
Dangote refinery drives domestic supply
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery accounted for a significant share of domestic petrol supply during the month. According to the NMDPRA data, the refinery produced an average of 41.94 million litres of petrol daily in August.
Of this volume, 35.87 million litres were supplied to the domestic market, while 9.73 million litres were exported.
The refinery ended August with 360.4 million litres of petrol in stock, while its average capacity utilisation stood at 105.21 percent.
The development further highlights the growing contribution of domestic refining to Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain as the country reduces its reliance on imported refined products.
Crude supply to refineries rises
The NMDPRA report also showed an increase in crude oil receipts by domestic refineries. Crude receipts rose by 17 percent, from 585,000 barrels per day in July to 683,000 barrels per day in August.
Between January and August, domestic refineries received a combined 137.98 million barrels of crude feedstock.
Of this volume, 109.88 million barrels, representing 79.64 percent, came from domestic crude sources, while 28.10 million barrels, or 20.36 percent, were imported seaborne crude. The increase in domestic crude supply coincided with higher refining activity during the period.
Diesel imports fall sharply
The report also recorded a significant decline in diesel receipts. Daily diesel receipts fell by 39 percent from 23.6 million litres in July to 14.5 million litres in August.
Diesel consumption also declined by 15 percent, from 16.8 million litres per day to 14.3 million litres per day.
Meanwhile, aviation fuel receipts increased by 63 percent, rising from 1.9 million litres per day in July to 3.1 million litres per day in August. Petrol stock sufficiency improved marginally during the period, increasing from 22.4 days in July to 22.9 days in August.
Diesel stock sufficiency also improved by 11 percent, from 46.5 days to 51.6 days.
Modular refineries record mixed performance
The NMDPRA data showed varying levels of activity among Nigeria’s modular refineries.
Edo Refinery recorded the highest average capacity utilisation among the modular facilities at 90.43 percent, followed by WalterSmith at 64.77 percent and Aradel Refinery at 58.77 percent. OPAC Refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation of 16.97 percent during August.
WalterSmith produced an average of 280,000 litres of diesel per day, while Aradel produced 310,000 litres daily. OPAC produced 110,000 litres per day, while Edo Refinery produced 80,000 litres daily.
