Nigeria’s petrol imports rose by 59.5 per cent in May, reversing months of decline, as oil marketers increased purchases from foreign suppliers despite growing contributions from domestic refineries.
Latest data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that average daily imports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, increased from 3.7 million litres per day in April to 5.9 million litres per day in May.
The increase coincided with a drop in crude oil supply to domestic refineries, raising fresh concerns over the sustainability of local refining and Nigeria’s push toward fuel self-sufficiency.
According to the report, crude supply to domestic refineries declined by 5.6 per cent, falling from 612,000 barrels per day in April to 578,000 barrels per day in May.
Despite the decline in feedstock, total petrol supply rose by 6.8 per cent from 44.4 million litres per day in April to 47.4 million litres per day in May.
Domestic refineries accounted for 41.5 million litres of the total daily petrol supply in May, while imports contributed 5.9 million litres.
The NMDPRA noted that locally refined petrol output increased marginally by two per cent from 40.7 million litres per day in April to 41.5 million litres per day in May, even as imported volumes surged sharply.
The figures indicate that while local refineries remain the primary source of fuel supply, imported products continue to play a significant role in bridging supply gaps.
An analysis of fuel supply data for the first five months of 2026 showed that petrol imports had moderated significantly before rebounding in May.
Imports stood at 24.8 million litres per day in January but fell to three million litres per day in February as domestic refining gained momentum. They rose to 5.9 million litres in March, declined to 3.7 million litres in April, and climbed again to 5.9 million litres in May.
Over the same period, domestic refinery supply increased from 40.1 million litres per day in January to 41.5 million litres per day in May. Locally refined products accounted for nearly 88 per cent of total petrol supply in May, compared to about 62 per cent in January.
The report also showed improvements in other petroleum products. Diesel supply rose by 84.3 per cent from 10.2 million litres per day in April to 18.8 million litres per day in May, with all supplies sourced locally after imports dropped to zero.
Aviation fuel supply also increased by 38.5 per cent, rising from 2.6 million litres per day in April to 3.6 million litres per day in May.
However, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly used for cooking, declined from 4.5 kilotonnes per day to 4.1 kilotonnes per day during the period.
The report further showed that average daily petrol consumption fell by 9.4 per cent from 51.1 million litres in April to 46.3 million litres in May, while diesel consumption declined from 17.3 million litres to 16 million litres per day.
Stock sufficiency also weakened, with petrol inventory falling from 17.7 days in April to 16 days in May, while diesel stock sufficiency declined from 39 days to 31 days.
Domestic gas supply dropped by 3.1 per cent, declining from 5.142 billion standard cubic feet per day in April to 4.984 billion standard cubic feet per day in May.
The rise in petrol imports comes amid reports of operational and feedstock challenges at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Industry reports indicated that the refinery reduced the operating rate of its gasoline-producing unit in late May due to feedstock shortages and technical issues.
Industry stakeholders have stressed that achieving Nigeria’s refining ambitions will depend on ensuring consistent crude oil supply to domestic refineries, warning that imported fuel will continue to supplement local production whenever supply disruptions occur.
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