Nigeria’s Petrol Consumption Rises to 51.1 Million Litres Daily in April
Fuel Demand Strengthens as Nigeria Reduces Dependence on Petrol Imports
Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption increased significantly in April 2026, rising to 51.1 million litres per day from 47.3 million litres recorded in March, according to new industry data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The latest figures reflect growing demand for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, amid expanding domestic refining activity and declining dependence on imported fuel supplies.
/ You Might Also Like /
Industry analysts say the increase also highlights the growing influence of local refining capacity, particularly following the operational expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has become a dominant supplier within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
Domestic Petrol Supply Increases Sharply
Data contained in the NMDPRA April 2026 factsheet showed that domestic petrol supply rose to 40.7 million litres per day in April, up from 34.2 million litres per day recorded in March.
The increase was driven largely by higher production volumes from the Dangote Refinery, which reportedly supplied 40.7 million litres daily to the domestic market during the month while exporting an additional 17.1 million litres per day.
According to the regulator, the refinery produced approximately 53.6 million litres of petrol daily in April and maintained an average capacity utilisation rate of 99.12 percent throughout the period.
The NMDPRA stated that the refinery achieved full operational capacity on most operating days during the month.
Analysts note that the growing contribution of domestic refining marks a significant shift within Nigeria’s petroleum sector, which historically depended heavily on imported refined products due to inadequate local refining infrastructure.
Fuel Imports Continue to Decline
The latest data also showed a continued decline in imported petroleum products as local refining output strengthened.
Imported petrol contributed only 3.7 million litres per day to domestic supply in April, compared with 5.9 million litres recorded in March.
Industry experts say the reduction reflects the increasing role of local refining in meeting domestic demand and reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves previously used for large-scale fuel imports.
Nigeria has historically spent billions of dollars annually importing refined petroleum products despite being one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers.
Analysts argue that stronger domestic refining capacity could improve energy security, reduce import dependency, and strengthen the country’s balance of payments position over the long term.
Dangote Refinery Expands Market Influence
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has rapidly emerged as a major player within Nigeria’s downstream oil sector since commencing large-scale refining operations.
The 650,000 barrels-per-day facility is currently regarded as Africa’s largest single-train refinery and has increasingly displaced imported fuel volumes within the domestic market.
According to NMDPRA data, Dangote Refinery also produced approximately 23.6 million litres of diesel daily and 22.9 million litres of aviation fuel during April.
The refinery reportedly supplied 8.0 million litres of diesel daily to the domestic market while exporting 17.8 million litres. Aviation fuel supply to the local market stood at 2.6 million litres daily, with 20.5 million litres exported.
Energy analysts note that the refinery’s operational scale is beginning to reshape fuel supply dynamics within Nigeria and across parts of West Africa.
State-Owned Refineries Remain Inactive
Despite the increase in domestic refining activity, state-owned refineries under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) reportedly remained inactive during the review period.
The NMDPRA disclosed that both the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Kaduna Refinery recorded zero production in April despite ongoing rehabilitation efforts.
The continued inactivity of government-owned refineries has generated debate over the effectiveness of refinery rehabilitation programmes and the future role of state-operated refining assets within Nigeria’s energy sector.
Analysts note that Nigeria’s downstream market is increasingly being driven by private sector investment and modular refinery expansion.
Modular Refineries Contribute to Domestic Supply
Beyond the Dangote facility, several modular refineries also contributed to domestic refined product supply during April.
According to NMDPRA data, Waltersmith Refinery operated at 56.14 percent capacity utilisation, while Edo Refinery achieved 79.2 percent utilisation during the month. Aradel Refinery reportedly operated at 39.5 percent capacity utilisation.
Combined, the three modular refineries supplied an average of 0.559 million litres of refined products daily during the review period.
Industry observers say modular refineries are becoming increasingly important in improving regional fuel supply, reducing logistics pressure, and supporting Nigeria’s broader refining capacity expansion goals.
Crude Oil Supply to Refineries Declines
Despite rising refining activity, crude oil supply to domestic refineries declined during the period.
The NMDPRA reported that crude supplied to domestic refineries fell to 0.612 million barrels per day in April from 0.674 million barrels per day recorded in March.
The decline has raised concerns among industry stakeholders regarding feedstock availability and the efficiency of Nigeria’s domestic crude supply framework.
Analysts note that consistent crude supply remains critical to sustaining refinery utilisation and maintaining stable domestic fuel production.
Earlier reports from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that domestic refineries received significantly less crude oil than allocated during the first quarter of 2026.
Fuel Demand Reflects Economic Activity
Energy analysts say rising petrol consumption may also indicate gradual improvement in transportation demand, logistics activity, and broader economic movement.
Petrol consumption remains closely linked to transportation, power generation, industrial activity, and commercial operations across Nigeria.
However, experts note that fuel demand trends are also influenced by pricing structures, subsidy reforms, cross-border smuggling controls, and exchange rate conditions.
Nigeria’s fuel market has experienced major adjustments since the removal of petrol subsidies in 2023, which significantly increased domestic fuel prices and altered consumption patterns.
Stock Sufficiency Declines
While fuel consumption increased in April, stock sufficiency reportedly declined during the period.
According to NMDPRA figures, petrol stock sufficiency fell to 17.7 days from 15.5 days recorded in March.
Analysts say maintaining adequate fuel reserves remains important for ensuring supply stability and reducing vulnerability to logistics disruptions or refinery outages.
Downstream Sector Undergoing Structural Shift
The latest data underscores the broader transformation taking place within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.
For decades, the sector was characterised by heavy import dependence, subsidy-related distortions, weak local refining capacity, and persistent supply challenges.
However, the operational expansion of large-scale private refineries and modular refining projects is increasingly shifting the industry toward domestic production-driven supply.
Industry stakeholders argue that sustained investment in refining infrastructure, pipeline networks, storage facilities, and crude supply systems will be necessary to consolidate these gains.
Nigeria’s rise in petrol consumption to 51.1 million litres daily in April highlights growing fuel demand alongside expanding domestic refining capacity within the country’s downstream petroleum sector.
The increasing contribution of local refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery, has significantly reduced dependence on imported fuel and reshaped supply dynamics across the market.
While challenges surrounding crude supply, refinery sustainability, and infrastructure remain, analysts believe continued growth in domestic refining could strengthen energy security, improve foreign exchange stability, and support broader industrial development within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
READ MORE
