Fuel Import Permits to Resume: Nigerian Marketers Optimistic Amid Dangote Refinery Supply Dip

Petroleum marketers in Nigeria have expressed renewed optimism following indications from the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that fuel import permits for petrol and diesel will resume by mid-February. The announcement comes after a temporary pause in import approvals, which industry sources say may have been linked to tightening supply in the domestic market.

According to insiders cited by Argus, the NMDPRA plans to approve new import licenses later this month, or by early March at the latest. This will be the first issuance of fuel import permits in 2026, following regulatory measures aimed at limiting imports strictly to shortfalls in local refinery output. Leadership changes at the NMDPRA, including the departure of former chief executive Farouk Ahmed in December 2025, were also cited as factors slowing approvals in the early part of the year.

National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Mr. Billy Gillis Harry, welcomed the move, noting that liberalizing imports alongside local refining supports market balance. “Countries often leave room for product importation to avoid local shortages,” he said, emphasizing that imports complement, rather than undermine, the Dangote Refinery’s contribution to Nigeria’s energy sector.

Market conditions have reinforced the need for imports, with crude deliveries at Dangote Refinery falling to 250,000 barrels per day in January from around 350,000 bpd in December—a 16-month low. Maintenance on key units such as the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) and Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) has further constrained production, highlighting potential gaps that imports may fill. In December 2025, the refinery supplied 32 million liters less than its planned 50 million liters per day, according to NMDPRA data.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified that it does not import finished products. CEO David Bird explained that processing intermediate or semi-processed materials is standard in global refining and emphasized that the refinery’s fuels meet international quality and environmental standards. “Our gasoline is lead-free and MMT-free, while our diesel meets ultra-low sulphur specifications,” Bird said, highlighting the refinery’s commitment to high-quality fuel production and public health protection.

source: punch