Nigeria’s oil marketers have largely stopped importing petrol due to the consistent supply of the product from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, according to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). The association’s national president, Abubakar Garima, stated that the refinery’s output has significantly reduced the need for fuel importation into the country.
The Dangote refinery has been operating steadily, producing petroleum products, including petrol, on a consistent basis, even during peak demand periods such as the festive season. This has helped prevent fuel scarcity nationwide. As a result, most marketers are no longer importing petrol, as the refinery is supplying enough products to meet local demand.
The availability of locally refined petrol has eased distribution challenges and reduced the pressure associated with foreign exchange demand for fuel importation, which had previously contributed to supply disruptions. The steady supply from the refinery has also ensured relative stability in fuel availability at filling stations, with fewer reports of queues and shortages in major cities and rural areas.
This development is a major milestone for Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, as local refining is gradually addressing long-standing challenges linked to import dependency. With local refining, the country is beginning to see the benefits of reduced exposure to international market shocks and logistics delays.
Nigeria has for decades relied heavily on imported refined petroleum products due to the poor performance of its state-owned refineries. However, the commencement of large-scale operations at the Dangote refinery is widely seen as a turning point in reversing this trend. As the refinery ramps up production and other local refineries come on stream, Nigeria could achieve near self-sufficiency in petrol supply, with attendant benefits for energy security and the economy.
The IPMAN president expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria’s oil sector, citing the potential for local refining to address long-standing challenges. The increased production of locally refined petrol is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s economy and energy security, and could potentially reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuel.
