The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has resumed importing petrol, reversing its decision to stop doing so a year ago.
On November 12, 2024, the company’s former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, had stated that NNPCLwould no longer import petroleum products.
However, according to its ‘State of the Midstream and Downstream Fact Sheet’ for November 2025, released on Wednesday, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority reported that NNPCL imported petrol in October.
The agency noted that NNPCL’s importation helped boost total petrol supply in November, which rose from 46 million litres per day in October to 71.5 million litres per day.
The authority reported that of the total petrol supply in November, 52.1 million litres were imported, while local refineries contributed 19.5 million litres.
NMDPRA added that the sharp increase in supply was also driven by the lower-than-demanded levels recorded in September and October 2025.
Additionally, the regulator noted that “imports by NNPCL, the supplier of last resort, in November 2025 were aimed at building inventory and ensuring adequate supply during the peak demand period.”
NMDPRA also noted that 12 vessels originally scheduled to discharge in October were delayed into November, further boosting petrol stocks.
“Domestic supply volumes are based on disport/discharged figures + refinery truck-outs,” NMDPRA added.
Further details from NMDPRA showed that Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption fell to 52.9 million litres in November, down from 56.7 million litres in October, representing a 6.7 per cent decline.
Despite the drop in consumption, the authority noted that November’s figure remained above the daily demand benchmark of 50 million litres.
The report also indicated that in October, Nigerians consumed an average of 15.4 million litres of diesel and 2.5 million litres of aviation fuel.
Additionally, Dangote Refinery supplied an average of 23.52 million litres of petrol per day in November.
In contrast, NMDPRA reported that the three refineries operated by NNPCL produced no petrol during the period, as they remained shut down.
