The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has resumed the issuance of petrol import licences to six downstream marketers, authorising the import of approximately 720,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) over the coming months.
The licences were allocated to NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix, Shafa, Pinnacle and Bono. NIPCO, Shafa and Pinnacle each received authorisation to import 120,000 tonnes, AA Rano and Matrix were each allotted 150,000 tonnes, and Bono was granted a licence for 60,000 tonnes. The combined volume represents a significant addition to Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply.
The decision marks a shift from the government’s recent emphasis on domestic refining capacity, exemplified by the Dangote Refinery. While the NMDPRA has not provided an explicit rationale for the renewed licences, the Dangote Refinery has repeatedly affirmed that its 650,000‑barrel‑per‑day output can meet virtually all of the nation’s fuel needs. NMDPRA data released earlier this year indicated that the refinery already supplies roughly 90 percent of the country’s daily fuel consumption.
Stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions to the policy change. Some industry observers view the licences as a precautionary measure to safeguard supply stability, while others question the timing given the refinery’s reported capacity. The move also follows a recent leadership change at the regulator: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as NMDPRA chief executive, succeeding Saidu Mohammed, who was dismissed while on official travel in Germany.
The issuance of the licences is expected to boost market liquidity and potentially curb short‑term price pressures. Nonetheless, the development underscores ongoing tensions between the drive to maximise domestic refining and the pragmatic need to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability.
Further monitoring will be required to assess how the imported volumes integrate with the output of the Dangote Refinery and whether additional licences will be granted as the market evolves.
