Dangote Petroleum Refinery has strongly denied reports suggesting that petroleum products exported from its facility are finding their way back into Nigeria through the offshore trading hub in Lomé, Togo. The company described the allegation as a “web of falsehoods,” insisting that neither trade data nor market realities support such claims. The clarification comes amid growing debate over Nigeria’s fuel import patterns despite increasing local refining capacity.
The controversy emerged after comments reportedly made during a webinar organized by the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), where an industry analyst claimed that a significant portion of fuel imported into Nigeria between March and May had originally been supplied by Dangote Refinery before being re-imported through Lomé. The remarks quickly sparked discussions about the efficiency of Nigeria’s fuel distribution chain and the role of local refiners in meeting domestic demand.
Responding to the claims, Dangote Refinery argued that such transactions would make little economic sense. According to the company, transporting products from its refinery to Lomé and then back into Nigeria would add between $82 and $90 per metric ton in logistics costs, making the process commercially unattractive. The refinery emphasized that it does not provide export discounts large enough to offset these expenses, leaving no practical incentive for such a trade route.
The company further stated that facilitating the return of its own exported products would contradict its long-standing mission of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel. Dangote noted that increased imports place additional pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves, weaken domestic industrial growth, and undermine investments in local refining. It also stressed that strict compliance procedures and contractual obligations are in place to monitor product sales, vessel nominations, and declared destinations.
The debate comes at a time when Nigeria recorded a sharp rise in petrol imports in May 2026. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that average daily petrol imports rose by nearly 60 percent to 5.9 million litres. Despite the increase, domestic refineries remained the primary source of supply, contributing 41.5 million litres daily and accounting for almost 88 percent of the country’s petrol consumption. The figures highlight the growing influence of local refining, even as questions continue to surround Nigeria’s evolving fuel market.
source: nairametrics