Despite increased capacity at the $20bn Dangote Refinery, over 70% of Nigeria’s petrol was imported in May and June 2025, raising concerns over foreign exchange strain and pricing control.
Fresh industry data has revealed that fuel marketers in Nigeria are once again relying heavily on imported petrol, despite the operational capacity of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), 71.38% of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption for May and June 2025 was covered through imports, while only 28.62% came from the $20 billion Lekki-based Dangote Refinery.
This insight was presented by the NMDPRA to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and obtained by The PUNCH. The data highlights growing concerns about Nigeria’s dependency on fuel imports — a trend that continues to drain the country’s foreign reserves and delay the benefits of domestic refining.
Industry experts argue that forcing marketers to depend solely on the Dangote Refinery at this stage could create a monopoly, disrupt pricing freedom, and potentially squeeze out independent marketers.
“We fear monopoly. The fear of monopoly is the beginning of wisdom,”
— Chinedu Ukadike, National Public Relations Officer, IPMAN
Ukadike emphasized that while the Dangote plant is a national asset, a monopoly in the fuel supply chain could hurt consumer access and price competitiveness — echoing past frustrations with former government-controlled pricing structures.
This situation has broader implications for infrastructure and investment planning. If fuel imports continue, rising logistics costs and FX exposure could indirectly impact construction pricing, real estate development, and public-private sector projects.
