The Federal Government, through its Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has issued licences to six marketers for the importation of 720,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).
The marketers are NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix, Shafa, Pinnacle, and Bono. The development comes amid claims by the NMDPRA that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now supplies over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption.
An official of the NMDPRA, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, confirmed to our correspondent that the import licences were issued.
Findings showed that NIPCO is expected to import 120,000 metric tonnes; AA Rano, 150,000MT; Matrix, 150,000MT; Shafa, 120,000MT; Pinnacle, 120,000MT; and Bono, 60,000MT, amounting to 720,000MT.
The latest approvals come despite earlier claims by the NMDPRA that there was no need for petrol importation because the country now has sufficient local refining capacity following the commencement of operations at the Dangote refinery.
The agency had stated that it did not issue a single import licence in the first quarter of 2026 because the Dangote refinery had the capacity to meet Nigeria’s petrol demand.
However, a top official of the NMDPRA on Thursday clarified that the regulator never banned fuel importation, insisting that energy security remains the agency’s priority. The official said a combination of imported and locally refined petrol would ensure supply stability across the country.
“There was never an embargo on importation. The position of the authority had always been clear. Energy security for the nation is paramount. The target has always been to do everything to ensure that there are no supply gaps in the system. So, the dual input of domestic refining and other sources would combine to give us the required supply stability,” the official said.
Our correspondent recalls that in March, the immediate past Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, stated that the agency was no longer importing petrol. Mohammed warned against attempts to push Nigeria back into an era of heavy petrol importation, saying the country must sustain the gains made in domestic refining.
He spoke while receiving a delegation from PUNCH Nigeria Limited at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja during a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships between the media organisation and key institutions in the energy sector.
Speaking during the meeting, Mohammed said some interests were still pushing for the continuation of large-scale fuel importation despite the country’s progress in boosting domestic refining capacity.
“Today, we have a refinery that meets our requirements. But there are still people who want us to remain in phase three of importation. I must tell you. So, we have to do all we can to make sure that what has been achieved is sustained. That is the hard work and the hard part of our job,” the former NMDPRA boss said.
He explained that Nigeria’s petroleum sector had historically passed through different phases, from early domestic refining to a prolonged period of import dependence caused by the collapse of state-owned refineries.
Mohammed noted that more than 200 tank farms sprang up along Nigeria’s coastline during the period, reflecting the country’s heavy dependence on imported fuel.
“Over 200 tank farms were relying on importation because Nigeria is a very big market, and that created business opportunities for some people. Until the big bang came, which is phase four. Today we have a refinery that meets our requirements,” he said, referring to the Dangote refinery.
He added, “There are still people who want us to remain in phase three (which is reliance on importation). So we must do everything possible to sustain what has been achieved.”
However, President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disagreed with the former NMDPRA chief executive, insisting that licences were still being granted to fuel importers.
Impeccable sources at the refinery had earlier informed our correspondent that the Dangote Group was considering exporting its refined products because the NMDPRA continued to issue petrol import licences.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, a senior management official at the Dangote Group said the refinery could resort to exporting all its products if the Federal Government continued granting import licences for petroleum products.
“Well, since import licences are still being given, we will as well export all our productions,” the source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told *The PUNCH*.
He added, “I’m sure that you saw my president’s statement that at least six companies have been given import licences. I know for sure that import licences are still being granted.”
When reminded that exporting all the refinery’s output could trigger a fresh energy crisis and fuel scarcity in the country, the Dangote official questioned why the Federal Government was not protecting local industries amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The official stated that the President of the United States, Donald Trump, was fighting to protect American industries while other countries were also defending their domestic markets.
“If they know there will be fuel scarcity, why are they giving import licenses when the whole world is trying to protect their local industries? Trump is fighting for the US, and the rest of the world is resisting him to protect their own industries. I know Nigeria cannot afford another energy scarcity, especially at a time when a global scarcity is building up because of the war,” the source stated.
