Nigeria’s downstream petroleum landscape is expanding faster than many industry watchers anticipated, as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirms that the country now hosts 22,681 registered filling stations and over 25,000 tanker trucks nationwide. The new data, captured in the latest Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) fact sheet, offers a fresh, detailed snapshot of the sector two years after full deregulation reshaped market dynamics.
The report, titled State of the Downstream Sector, also reveals that Nigeria operates 256 petroleum depots, forming the backbone of a complex supply chain that connects import terminals, depots, truck fleets, and thousands of retail outlets feeding the nation’s energy-dependent economy.
Retail and Logistics Network Expands
According to the Authority, the rise in licensed retail outlets reflects deepening private-sector participation and heightened competition among marketers. This expansion aligns with the broad shift toward a deregulated regime, where market forces now determine product availability and pricing.
Furthermore, the presence of more than 25,000 petroleum tanker trucks underscores Nigeria’s heavy dependence on road-based fuel distribution. Despite its scale, analysts repeatedly warn that the system remains vulnerable to road accidents, long-haul delays, and rising operational costs. Yet marketers continue to invest aggressively to secure supply-chain dominance.
In a related development, the Dangote Refinery recently brought in thousands of CNG-powered trucks for direct distribution, signalling a gradual pivot toward cleaner, more efficient logistics systems.
Storage and Refining Capacities Strengthen
The NMDPRA highlights that Nigeria’s national storage network currently boasts:
- 4.72 billion litres of petrol capacity,
- 2.54 billion litres for diesel, and
- 464 million litres for aviation fuel.
These storage volumes illustrate the country’s readiness to accommodate increased domestic refining once full-scale supply from local refineries including Dangote and rehabilitated state-owned plants enters the market. However, Nigeria still relies significantly on imports, a factor that keeps pump prices exposed to forex volatility and global crude movements.
Gas Sector Shows Strength, Though Utilisation Lags
Beyond liquid fuels, the Authority’s fact sheet captures extensive data on the nation’s gas infrastructure. As of October 2025, Nigeria’s total installed gas processing capacity stood at 6.1 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d). Gas conditioning and treatment plants supply an additional 11.05 bscf/d, bringing the country’s combined capacity to 17.2 bscf/d.
However, actual utilisation lags behind capacity. The sector recorded an average operating rate of 3.94 bscf/d, representing 64.7% utilisation.
Major facilities contributed as follows:
- NLNG Trains 1–6: 3.5 bscf/d (71.68% of total processed gas)
- MPNU BRT facility: 0.69 bscf/d
- Escravos Gas Plant: 0.68 bscf/d (75.57% utilisation)
For domestic supply between Q1 and Q3 2025:
- Gas-to-power averaged 0.641 bscf/d,
- Gas-to-commercial averaged 0.522 bscf/d, and
- Gas-based industries consumed 0.409 bscf/d.
Together, these categories accounted for 1.572 bscf/d in domestic consumption, indicating rising demand from power plants, industrial clusters, and commercial consumers.
As Nigeria’s downstream network expands in scale and complexity, stakeholders stress the need for better logistics coordination, improved trucking safety, and accelerated refinery output to reduce import dependence. Nonetheless, the new data reinforces one clear point: the country’s downstream and gas infrastructure is evolving rapidly, setting the stage for deeper reforms and stronger local supply resilience.