Nigeria’s petrol consumption declined in February as supply patterns shifted with growing contributions from the Dangote Refinery and modular facilities, according to official data.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) reported that average daily consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, fell to 56.9 million litres in February from 60.2 million litres in January. This coincided with a sharp drop in overall domestic supply, which decreased to 39.6 million litres per day from 64.9 million litres the previous month.
The Dangote Refinery, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s push for energy self-sufficiency, reduced its petrol output to 36.5 million litres per day in February from 40.1 million litres in January. The decline in domestic supply suggests a shortfall was met through increased imports or drawdowns from existing stocks, even as the country’s own refining capacity slowly expands.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries remained non-operational for petrol production throughout February, with rehabilitation works continuing. The Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri refineries recorded zero petrol output. Some continued limited diesel evacuation: Port Harcourt released an average of 0.392 million litres daily, while Kaduna supplied about 0.027 million litres.
In contrast, diesel supply (Automotive Gas Oil, AGO) rose significantly to 24.4 million litres per day in February, up from 18.9 million litres in January. This increase was driven by output from modular refineries and the evacuation of diesel stocks from the idle state-owned plants.
Modular refineries played a notable role in diesel supply. WalterSmith Refinery operated at 59.66% capacity, providing 0.112 million litres daily. Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company ran at 81.66% utilisation, supplying 0.085 million litres. Aradel Refinery operated at 34.47% capacity, delivering 0.171 million litres. Two other modular plants—OPAC and Duport—were shut during the month.
The data illustrates a transitional phase in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. While large-scale refining from the Dangote facility has begun altering the supply mix, persistent inactivity at legacy state refineries and variable output from newer modular plants create a dynamic, and sometimes volatile, market environment. The drop in petrol consumption and supply, juxtaposed with rising diesel availability from domestic sources, highlights the uneven progress of Nigeria’s refining sector rehabilitation and expansion.
The NMDPRA’s figures underscore that the development of local refining capacity remains a work in progress, with implications for fuel availability, import dependency, and market stability as the country continues its transition toward greater energy security.
