Daily Petrol Imports Surge by 96.6% in March 2026

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reported a massive 96.6% spike in daily petrol imports for March 2026. Data shows that imports rose to **5.9 million liters per day**, up from 3.0 million liters in February. This surge occurred despite the continued operation of local refineries, highlighting the ongoing reliance on foreign fuel to meet national demand.

While imports jumped month-on-month, the NMDPRA noted that on a year-on-year basis, daily petrol imports actually dropped by 79.4% compared to March 2025. This long-term decline is largely attributed to the entry of the Dangote Refinery into the domestic market. However, the refinery recently increased its petrol price to ₦1,275 per litre, which has influenced the recent fluctuations in supply and demand.

The report also highlighted a decline in petrol stock sufficiency, which fell from 30.7 days to 21.2 days. This tighter inventory has sparked fears of potential supply disruptions in some regions. Stakeholders in the downstream sector are calling for greater transparency in pricing and more robust support for local refiners to stabilize the energy market and reduce the country’s foreign exchange burden.

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