The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has given the nod for a whopping 830,000 metric tonnes of petrol to be imported into the country for the fourth quarter of 2026. This approval, handed to six major petroleum marketers, comes at a time when Nigeria's own refineries are churning out more fuel and the festive season is expected to drive up demand.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) sees this move as a positive step. Chief Chinedu Ukadike, their Public Relations Officer, stated that the NMDPRA is simply doing its job by issuing these licences. But, he was quick to add that the real test is whether these imports can actually compete with locally refined products, especially from the new Dangote Petroleum Refinery. "If their product will be cheaper than that of Dangote, it will be a welcome development. But if it’s higher than that of Dangote, I think that it is an exercise in futility," Ukadike told Vanguard.
The six companies set to bring in this fuel are Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil, and Bono Energy. These names aren't new to import licences; they've had allocations in previous quarters, with their combined share growing significantly from 180,000MT in Q1 to over 800,000MT in Q3.
This whole import approval is happening against the backdrop of a major shift in Nigeria's fuel supply. Domestic refineries, particularly the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, are increasingly supplying the market. In fact, NMDPRA data shows that local refineries supplied about 76.7 per cent of Nigeria’s total petrol in the first quarter of 2026. This has caused petrol imports to drop by about 60 per cent compared to the previous year, coming in at just around 965.5 million litres.
It's not all smooth sailing, though. The process of granting these import licences has even landed in court, with Dangote Refinery reportedly challenging the NMDPRA's decision. They argue that with current domestic production, Nigeria doesn't even need more imports.
And while all this is going on with imports and refineries, there's another drama unfolding at the petrol stations. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has ordered all its members across the country to immediately check their dispensing meters. This follows a stern warning from the NMDPRA about fuel under-dispensing. Billy Gillis-Harry, the National President of PETROAN, confirmed this after an emergency meeting. "PETROAN circulated a message around the country, calling our members to check their meters as quickly as possible," he said.
Gillis-Harry explained that equipment can malfunction over time due to regular use, and this can lead to either under-dispensing or over-dispensing fuel. He even shared a personal anecdote about losing money in his own business due to a faulty meter that gave out more fuel than paid for. He assured motorists that PETROAN members are committed to selling "one litre for one litre" and urged drivers to keep an eye on the pump display and always collect their receipts.