Nigerians Spent N1.58 Trillion on Petrol During December 2025 Festive Season
Official data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has revealed that Nigerians spent a staggering N1.58 trillion on petrol during the December 2025 festive season. This represents the highest monthly fuel consumption expenditure recorded throughout the entire year, highlighting the significant financial burden on households and businesses during the holiday period.
Record-Breaking Fuel Consumption Figures
According to the NMDPRA's December factsheet, average daily petrol consumption reached 63.7 million litres throughout the month. With December containing 31 days, this translated to a total nationwide petrol usage of approximately 1.97 billion litres. This consumption level marked the highest daily average recorded since October 2024, showing a substantial increase from the 52.3 million litres consumed daily during December 2024.
The regulator attributed this surge in fuel usage to several key factors that typically characterize the December period:
- Increased holiday travel and festive movements across the country
- Heightened commercial activities associated with end-of-year celebrations
- Greater reliance on petrol-powered generators by both households and businesses
- Enhanced logistics operations during the busy festive season
Supply Sources and Market Dynamics
The NMDPRA data provided detailed insights into how Nigeria met this substantial fuel demand. During December 2025, the country imported approximately 1.31 billion litres of petrol, while the Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplied about 992 million litres to the domestic market. This combined effort resulted in an average daily petrol supply of 74.2 million litres throughout the month.
The breakdown of daily supply sources reveals important trends in Nigeria's fuel market:
- Imports accounted for 42.2 million litres per day
- Dangote refinery contributed approximately 32 million litres daily
- Improved output from the Dangote facility played a crucial role in boosting overall supply
Despite the Dangote refinery announcing a price reduction in December, cutting gantry prices from about N900 to N739 per litre, many filling stations across Nigeria continued to sell petrol above N800 per litre. This was particularly evident in parts of northern Nigeria, though Lagos and some areas of Ogun State recorded lower prices during the festive season.
Financial Impact and Market Context
Based on the total volume consumed and the average pump price of about N800 per litre recorded across major cities, consumer spending on petrol in December was estimated at N1.58 trillion. This figure represents a significant financial outlay for Nigerian consumers and businesses operating in a fully deregulated market environment.
The NMDPRA noted that December typically records higher fuel consumption than other months due to the unique combination of factors mentioned earlier. This pattern has become increasingly significant as Nigeria continues to navigate the challenges of fuel supply and pricing in a deregulated market.
For context, the regulator reported that petrol consumption had actually declined to 52.9 million litres daily in November 2025, down from 56.74 million litres recorded in October. This seasonal fluctuation underscores how December's festive activities dramatically increase fuel demand across the nation.
The N1.58 trillion spending estimate serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing financial pressure that petrol costs place on Nigerian households and businesses, even as increased local refining capacity and strategic imports help stabilize fuel availability in the market.
