In a significant shift for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has surpassed importers to supply about 62 per cent of the country’s Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in January 2026.
According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) 2026 January report, total average daily petrol supply reached 64.9 million litres per day (ML/D) during the month. Of this, 40.1 ML/D — or roughly 62 per cent — was sourced from domestic refining, led by Dangote, while imports supplied the remaining 24.8 ML/D.
This is the first time since data began being tracked in January 2025 that local refining output has overtaken foreign imports.
The Authority’s “State of the Downstream Sector” fact sheet highlights that Dangote’s petrol output increased notably in January, rising from 32 ML/D in December 2025 to 40.1 ML/D, representing a 25 per cent month‑on‑month increase and reflecting the refinery’s ongoing operational ramp‑up.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) currently operates as the only commercial petrol producer in Nigeria, with Managing Director David Bird stating that the facility now has the capacity to deliver over 50 million litres of petrol per day.
The January data follows a variable supply pattern throughout 2025. Earlier in the year, total supply levels ranged from 43.7 ML/D in January to 57.1 ML/D in May, with domestic refining contributing between 18 ML/D and 25 ML/D while imports filled the gap. Notably, in November 2025, total supply peaked at 71.5 ML/D, driven by imports of 52.1 ML/D — the highest volume recorded in the period.
By December 2025, however, domestic contribution climbed to 32 ML/D, pushing total supply to 74.2 ML/D even as imports declined slightly, signalling the refinery’s growing influence.
Before Dangote began PMS production in September 2024, Nigeria — Africa’s largest crude oil producer — relied fully on imported petrol. The refinery, with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, represents a major step toward ending this dependence.
The increased local production in January is expected to generate significant foreign exchange savings, reduce exposure to international price volatility, and improve fuel availability for Nigerian consumers.
Representatives of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) have previously stated that domestic capacity — especially when combined with smaller modular refineries — could meet Nigeria’s petrol demand without importation, provided crude supply and refinery feedstock availability improve.
According to CORAN Publicity Secretary Eche Idoko, the Dangote refinery is already producing around 50 ML/D, close to peak national petrol consumption of about 54 ML/D. He added that with increased feedstock support and optimisation across local refineries, Nigeria has the potential to achieve full petrol self‑sufficiency in 2026.