The Dangote Petroleum Refinery operated at near-full capacity throughout April as improved local crude supply reduced the need for imported feedstock by domestic refiners.Â
Data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that domestic refineries received approximately 18.37 million barrels of crude oil during the month, with 17.96 million barrels sourced locally, while imports accounted for only 410,000 barrels.
The decline in crude imports marks one of the most significant improvements in Nigeria’s refining ecosystem in recent years. By comparison, crude imports stood at 9.43 million barrels in March and 4.25 million barrels in February.
The development comes months after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery publicly raised concerns over inadequate crude supply, revealing that it had been receiving only five cargoes instead of the 15 cargoes required for optimal operations. Industry analysts say the latest figures suggest that supply bottlenecks have eased considerably, largely driven by improved coordination between local oil producers and refiners under the federal government’s naira-for-crude arrangement.
According to the NMDPRA fact sheet, local refineries processed an average of 612,000 barrels per day in April. Of this volume, local crude accounted for about 599,000 barrels per day, while imported crude shrank to a marginal 13,700 barrels daily.
The Dangote refinery remained the dominant player in the sector, receiving the bulk of crude supplied during the period and operating at an average capacity utilisation rate of 99.12 percent. Regulatory data showed that the refinery achieved full operational capacity on most days in April, reinforcing its growing strategic role in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
The refinery’s strong performance translated into significantly higher production volumes across major petroleum products. Daily Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) production averaged 53.6 million litres, while diesel output stood at 23.6 million litres per day. Aviation Turbine Kerosene, also known as jet fuel, reached 22.9 million litres daily.
A substantial portion of the refined products was channelled into the domestic market. Out of the total PMS produced, approximately 40.7 million litres per day were supplied locally, while 17.1 million litres were exported. Diesel exports averaged 17.8 million litres daily, while jet fuel exports stood at 20.5 million litres per day.
Industry stakeholders attributed the improved domestic fuel supply to the increased availability of local crude and the operational efficiency of the Dangote refinery. The development helped push Nigeria’s total PMS daily supply to 44.4 million litres in April, an increase from 40.1 million litres recorded in March.
Domestic PMS supply rose to 40.7 million litres per day, while imports fell significantly to just 3.7 million litres daily.
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Despite the improvement in supply, domestic fuel consumption remained elevated. Daily PMS truck-out volumes averaged 51.1 million litres, slightly above the Federal Government’s 2026 benchmark estimate of 50 million litres per day. The NMDPRA added that national fuel sufficiency averaged 18 days for PMS and 39 days for diesel during the review period.
Beyond Dangote, three operational modular refineries including WalterSmith, Edo Refinery, and Aradel, also contributed to domestic supply, collectively delivering about 0.559 million litres of diesel daily, although their capacity utilisation levels varied.
The regulatory authority described the rise in local refining activity as a strong indication of Nigeria’s growing energy self-sufficiency and a positive step toward reducing pressure on foreign exchange demand linked to fuel imports.
However, the gains in domestic refining have yet to translate into lower retail fuel prices across the country. Petrol prices remained elevated in April due largely to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which continue to influence global crude prices and freight costs.
NMDPRA data showed that the highest pump price in the country was recorded in Maiduguri, where petrol sold for as much as N1,413 per litre. In contrast, average actual prices in Lagos stood at N1,271.50 per litre, highlighting persistent regional pricing disparities.
