Nigeria's daily petrol imports dropped to 14.6 million litres in August 2026, down from 19.7 million litres in July, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The decline of 26% came as domestic refineries, led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, increased their contribution to the country's fuel supply.
The figures were contained in the regulator's August 2026 State of the Midstream and Downstream Sector factsheet, released on Thursday, September 24. The data shows that imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) fell sharply during the month, while domestic PMS receipts increased by 39%, rising from 25.8 million litres per day to 35.9 million litres per day.
Dangote Refinery Supplies 35.87 Million Litres Daily
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery recorded an average petrol production of 41.94 million litres per day in August. According to the NMDPRA figures, 35.87 million litres of the refinery's daily output went into the domestic market, while 9.73 million litres were exported. The refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation of 105.21% during the month and ended August with 360.4 million litres of PMS in stock.
The volume supplied by domestic sources represented 71% of total PMS receipts recorded during the month. This marks a significant shift in Nigeria's fuel supply dynamics, with local refineries now playing a dominant role in meeting domestic demand.
Crude Deliveries to Local Plants Rise
The increase in domestic refinery output coincided with a rise in crude deliveries to local plants. Crude receipts increased by 17%, moving from 585,000 barrels per day in July to 683,000 barrels per day in August. BusinessDay reports that local refineries received 137.98 million barrels of feedstock between January and August 2026.
Domestic crude accounted for 109.88 million barrels, representing 79.64% of the total feedstock received during the period. Imported seaborne crude accounted for the remaining 28.10 million barrels, highlighting the growing reliance on local crude supplies for refining operations.
Petrol Consumption Drops 14%
Despite the higher volume of petrol supplied, recorded domestic consumption declined in August. The NMDPRA reported a 14% fall in PMS consumption, from 48.3 million litres per day in July to 41.5 million litres per day in August. Total petrol receipts rose 11% to 50.5 million litres per day, even as domestic consumption fell during the same period.
Petrol stock sufficiency also improved slightly, rising from 22.4 days to 22.9 days. This indicates a modest improvement in the country's fuel stock buffer, providing a cushion against potential supply disruptions.
NNPC Revises Pump Prices After Dangote Cut
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited published revised pump prices at its filling stations across the country after Dangote Petroleum Refinery reduced its ex-gantry price for Premium Motor Spirit by N25 per litre. The refinery reduced its petrol price from N1,350 to N1,325 per litre, with expectations that petroleum marketers will adjust their prices accordingly.
The cut came nine days after Dangote Refinery raised its petrol price by N85 per litre on September 12, 2026, moving the refinery's rate from N1,265 to N1,350. The price adjustment is expected to influence pump prices across the country, as marketers align with the new ex-gantry rate.
