Nigerians spent an estimated N1.58tn on petrol in December 2025, based on official fuel consumption data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
According to the NMDPRA December fact sheet, average daily petrol consumption stood at 63.7 million litres per day throughout the month. With 31 days in December, nationwide petrol use totalled 1.97 billion litres.
Petrol consumption in the month remained consistently high, perhaps driven largely by increased travel, festive movements and higher commercial activities associated with the Yuletide.
Using the total volume of petrol consumed in the month and applying the average pump price of about N800 per litre that prevailed across major cities, total consumer spending on petrol for December is estimated at about N1.58tn, which is 1.97 billion multiplied by N800.
It could be recalled that the Dangote refinery enforced a price reduction in December, crashing petrol prices from around N900 to N739 per litre. However, it was observed that, unlike MRS in Lagos and some parts of Ogun, many filling stations sold petrol above N800 during the Yuletide, especially in the north.
Our correspondent reports that the calculation relies on two official and market-based indicators: the daily consumption figure provided by the regulator and the average retail price motorists paid at filling stations following the deregulation of the petrol market. While pump prices varied slightly by location, N800 per litre broadly reflects the national average during the period.
December typically records higher fuel usage compared to other months due to holiday travel, end-of-year logistics, and increased need for electricity by businesses relying on petrol-powered generators. These seasonal factors explain the elevated spending level recorded during the month.
It was observed that the December 2025 figure of 63.7 million litres per day was the highest since October 2024.
Year-on-year, daily petrol consumption stood at 52.3 million litres per day in December 2024.
The NMDPRA data showed that daily premium motor spirit consumption surged in October 2025, hitting 56.9 million litres, but it dropped in November to 52.9 million and soared again to its highest in December 2025.
According to the regulator, the consumption data as reported is based on volumes trucked into the domestic market by the Dangote refinery and importers.
Nigeria imported approximately 1.31 billion litres of petrol in December 2025, according to NMDPRA. During the same period, the Dangote refinery supplied 992 million litres, showing a notable contribution from domestic refining compared to November.
In the month under review, total petrol supply was 74.2 million litres per day: imports accounted for 42.2 million litres per day, while Dangote supplied 32 million litres per day. This indicated that about 10 million litres per day were not trucked out during the month.
“Domestic supply is volumes received into coastal depots plus volumes trucked out from domestic refineries. PMS supply in December 2025 increased due to significant improvement in supply from DPRP (19.5 ML/day to 32 ML/day).”
The N1.58tn estimate underscores the significant cost burden of petrol on Nigerian households and businesses, even as domestic supply from the Dangote refinery and imports helped stabilise availability.
It also highlights how fuel expenditure continues to absorb a large share of consumer spending in a fully deregulated downstream market.
