Nigeria recorded its lowest petrol import levels in February 2026 as domestic refining, led primarily by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, supplied the bulk of fuel to the local market.
An official factsheet on Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, showed total daily petrol supply fell from 64.9 million litres in January to 39.6 million litres in February, a 39.1 per cent decline largely due to reduced imports.
Domestic refineries contributed 36.5 million litres per day, representing about 92 per cent of total supply, while imported fuel accounted for just 8 per cent.
The figures signal a structural shift in the downstream sector, highlighting growing reliance on local refineries.
The national petrol sufficiency level stood at 31 days, with average daily consumption at 36.6 million litres, indicating supply met domestic demand despite lower imports.
Diesel consumption also exceeded projections, averaging 20.3 million litres per day—about 45 per cent above the benchmark of 14 million litres—while aviation fuel demand remained largely stable.
Domestic refineries supplied 8.2 million litres of diesel daily, supplemented by three modular refineries contributing steady volumes.
Nigeria’s gas sector also remained robust, with total daily supply reaching 4.771 billion standard cubic feet, including 3.018 billion cubic feet to the Nigeria LNG plant and 1.763 billion cubic feet to the domestic market.
Power generation, commercial users, and gas-based industries accounted for significant portions of usage.
Several strategic gas infrastructure projects are advancing, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline at 79.2 per cent completion and the ELPS midline compressor project at 93 per cent completion.
The data underscores the pivotal role of domestic refining in ensuring fuel security and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.
