Nigeria Imports 154.22 Million Liters of Petrol as Dangote Refinery Halts Naira Sales

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reported that between March 17 and 23, 2025, Nigerian petroleum marketers and dealers imported 154.22 million liters of premium motor spirit (PMS), sourcing fuel from foreign suppliers instead of relying solely on Dangote Refinery.

According to an NPA document released on Thursday, vessels carrying 115,000 metric tonnes of PMS were scheduled to arrive at major Nigerian ports, including Tincan (Lagos), Lekki Deep Seaport (Lagos), and Calabar (Cross River State).

During the same period, Dangote Refinery imported 654,766 metric tonnes of crude oil, highlighting ongoing refinery operations.

Key shipments of imported PMS included:

• March 17: A 20,000-metric-ton shipment arrived at Dangote Terminal, while two additional ships carrying the same volume docked at Tincan and Calabar.
• March 20: A Watson vessel carrying 20,000 metric tonnes arrived at Ecomarine Terminal under the management of Kach Maritime.
• March 21: A Binta Saleh vessel was expected to deliver 5,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Tincan Port, Lagos at midnight.
• March 22: A 15,000-metric-ton petroleum shipment was scheduled to arrive at Calabar Port at 11:06 a.m. under Peak Shipping.
• March 23: Another 15,000-metric-ton shipment was set to dock at the Eco Marine Terminal in Calabar at 5:10 p.m.

These seven vessels are expected to collectively import 115,000 metric tonnes of PMS, equivalent to 154.22 million liters, based on a conversion rate of 1,341 liters per metric tonne.

This surge in fuel imports comes as Dangote Refinery recently halted the sale of petroleum products in Naira, following a breakdown in its Naira-for-crude agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

As of March 12, 2025, the ex-depot price of PMS from Dangote Refinery ranged between ₦815 and ₦825 per liter, while the landing cost of imported petrol had decreased to ₦774–₦797 per liter.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has defended the continued importation of PMS, explaining that the country’s three operational refineries produce less than half of the daily fuel demand, making imports necessary to meet consumption levels.