Nigeria’s petrol market is changing rapidly as local refineries cut dependence on imported fuel.
According to new data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, analysed by analysts, petrol imports dropped sharply in Q1 2026.
Petrol Import Decline
Nigeria imported 965.52 million litres between January and March 2026, compared with 2.43 billion litres during the same period in 2025.
As a result, imports declined by more than 60% year-on-year.
Local Refinery Growth
Meanwhile, local refineries increased supply strongly during the review period.
Domestic refineries supplied 3.18 billion litres in Q1 2026, compared with 1.996 billion litres in Q1 2025.
Although the report did not directly mention the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the facility remains Nigeria’s only large-scale commercial petrol producer.
Read Also: Naira Weakens To ₦1,375/$ As Geopolitical Tensions Lift Greenback
Consequently, local refineries now supply nearly 77% of Nigeria’s petrol needs, up from about 45% one year earlier.
February shift
Notably, February recorded the sharpest drop in imports.
Nigeria imported only 85.1 million litres in February 2026, compared with about 770 million litres in February 2025.
At the same time, local refineries supplied 824.45 million litres and covered more than 90% of petrol demand during the month.
Furthermore, the trend continued in March as local refinery contribution climbed to 1.11 billion litres.
However, imports remained far below levels recorded during March 2025.
