Petrol Consumption Drops to 47.3 Million Litres Daily in March 2026, Says NMDPRA

Petrol consumption in Nigeria fell significantly in March 2026, dropping to an average of 47.3 million litres per day from 56.9 million litres in February. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) attributed this 16.87 percent decline to changes in supply dynamics and market behaviour, according to its latest fact sheet.

Despite the fall in local consumption, fuel imports by marketers increased during the same period. Import levels rose to 5.9 million litres per day in March, compared to 3 million litres per day in February, highlighting a growing reliance on imported products even amid shifts in domestic supply patterns.

Total daily petrol supply also showed a slight increase, rising from 39.5 million litres to 40.1 million litres. However, domestic supply dropped from 36.5 million litres per day in February to 34.2 million litres in March, while fuel stock sufficiency declined sharply from 30.7 days to 21 days.

The report also highlighted refinery performance, noting that the Dangote Refinery produced 48.2 million litres of petrol daily and 16.5 million litres of diesel daily. In contrast, the Warri and Kaduna refineries remained inactive, while the Port Harcourt Refinery was shut, with only limited evacuation of previously produced diesel. The Waltersmith Refinery, however, continued operations following the activation of its second production train.

In its broader petroleum outlook, the NMDPRA reported declining diesel consumption and imports, alongside improved stock sufficiency, while Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply remained relatively stable. The regulator said the data reflects Nigeria’s ongoing energy transition efforts, including stronger domestic production and reduced import dependency.