Nigeria’s Petrol Consumption Climbs to 51.1 Million Litres Daily in April Amid Rising Refinery Output
Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption surged to 51.1 million litres per day in April 2026, up from 47.3 million litres recorded in March, according to fresh data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. The increase reflects growing fuel demand across the country as local refining activities continue to expand and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
The latest industry figures showed that domestic petrol supply also recorded a major increase during the month, rising to 40.7 million litres daily from 34.2 million litres in March. A significant portion of the supply growth came from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which maintained strong operational performance throughout April. The refinery reportedly produced 53.6 million litres of petrol daily, while supplying 40.7 million litres to the Nigerian market and exporting 17.1 million litres per day.
The report further revealed that imported petroleum products contributed only 3.7 million litres daily to domestic supply in April, a noticeable drop from the 5.9 million litres recorded in March. The Dangote Refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation rate of 99.12 percent and reportedly achieved full capacity on most operating days during the month. However, crude oil supplied to local refineries declined to 0.612 million barrels per day, down from 0.674 million barrels per day in March, raising fresh concerns about feedstock availability for domestic refiners.
Meanwhile, state-owned refineries managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited remained inactive despite ongoing rehabilitation projects. Both the Warri and Kaduna refineries recorded zero production in April. In contrast, privately owned modular refineries posted moderate operational improvements. WalterSmith Refinery operated at 56.14 percent capacity utilisation, while Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company achieved 79.2 percent. Aradel Refinery recorded 39.5 percent utilisation, with the three modular plants jointly supplying about 0.559 million litres of refined products daily.
The latest figures highlight the growing influence of private refiners in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, especially as the country pushes to cut fuel imports and strengthen local production capacity. Industry analysts say the continued expansion of domestic refining could help stabilize fuel supply and reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand. However, concerns remain over crude supply shortages to local refineries, which could slow progress if not properly addressed by regulators and upstream operators.
source: nairametrics