Petrol Vessels Dock Lagos Ports to Bridge Supply Gap

Several vessels carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) have docked at Lagos’ Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, securing fuel supplies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. According to Nigerian Ports Authority records reviewed by Channels Television, five ships delivering a combined 95,000 metric tonnes of refined products arrived between last Thursday and Sunday.

The arrivals follow a strategic regulatory shift aimed at preventing supply shortfalls for Nigeria’s 239 million residents. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently approved six new licences permitting local marketers to import approximately 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol. The policy adjustment reverses the regulator’s earlier stance that domestic refining capacity was sufficient to meet national consumption levels.

“The NMDPRA halted petrol import licensing in February due to stable domestic supply, but escalating regional tensions created an unexpected shortfall,” a senior NMDPRA official told S&P Global. “To bridge the gap, we issued new licences to authorised importers.”

Port scheduling data confirms the recent deliveries. At the Apapa terminal, the vessels Kingis and Leste delivered 15,000 metric tonnes of petrol and 20,000 metric tonnes of diesel via the Lister Oil Jetty and Bulk Oil Plant Terminal, respectively. Hudson subsequently arrived at the New Oil Jetty with 22,000 metric tonnes of AGO. At Tin Can Island, Savanna and Kobe offloaded 16,000 metric tonnes of PMS and 22,000 metric tonnes of diesel at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminals.

Approved importers for this licensing round include Bono Energy, Pinnacle, AYM Shafa, Matrix, A.A. Rano, and NIPCO. Each company received clearance to bring in roughly 30,000 metric tonnes of petrol to strengthen retail distribution networks.

Energy security remains critical to transport operations and commercial stability across the country. The recent port arrivals and adjusted import frameworks aim to maintain consistent stock levels and mitigate price volatility as global markets respond to shifting international conditions. Authorities will continue tracking vessel schedules and depot inventories to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability in the coming weeks.