Nigeria Cuts Petrol Imports as Local Refining Capacity Surges – NMDPRA

In a bid to work towards energy self-sufficiency, Nigeria has recorded a significant drop in the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced that daily PMS imports fell sharply from 44.6 million litres in August 2024 to just 14.7 million litres by mid-April 2025. Speaking during the “Meet-the-Press” briefing series organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House in Abuja, NMDPRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, attributed the 30-million-litre reduction in imports to the remarkable increase in local refining output.

According to Ahmed, local production of petrol saw a staggering 670% increase over the past eight months, rising from 3.4 million litres per day in September 2024 to 26.2 million litres per day as of early April 2025. He noted that the restart of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in November 2024 played a significant role in the boost, along with increasing contributions from modular refineries scattered across the country.

Despite this surge in local refining, Ahmed pointed out that national consumption still exceeds the government’s benchmark of 50 million litres per day. For example, in November 2024, national supply peaked at 56 million litres daily, while February 2025 recorded 52.3 million litres. March saw a slight drop to 51.5 million litres, and the average for the first half of April 2025 stood at 40.9 million litres per day. The CEO emphasized that the NMDPRA continues to issue petrol import licenses strictly based on national demand. This, he explained, is to ensure a balanced supply system that aligns with the nation’s growing capacity to refine its own fuel. He underscored the agency’s strategic commitment to supporting local production while avoiding unnecessary overstocking or shortages.

Beyond refining and supply, Ahmed turned the spotlight on national infrastructure and the critical need to protect it. He called for a united front from all sectors of Nigerian society to safeguard the country’s oil and gas assets. “It takes all of us—government, traditional institutions, companies, and the youth—to collaborate and resist criminal activities that threaten our infrastructure,” he said. “Until we all commit to safeguarding these national assets, we should stop pointing fingers.” He also urged international oil companies (IOCs), indigenous producers, local authorities, and host communities to play more active roles in maintaining oil facilities and securing them against vandalism, theft, and sabotage.

Finally, Ahmed reaffirmed NMDPRA’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and strategic oversight in the midstream and downstream sectors of Nigeria’s oil industry. The latest data, he added, reflects a promising shift towards local energy security and a more self-reliant oil economy.