December 2025 was a record month for fuel consumption in Nigeria, with the nation spending an estimated ₦1.58tn on petrol. According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the total petrol consumption for the month hit a staggering 1.97 billion litres, translating to a daily average of 63.7 million litres. This surge in consumption, driven largely by increased travel and festive activities, highlights the significant economic impact of petrol on Nigerian households and businesses during the Yuletide period.
Increased Consumption Amid Festive Movements
Petrol consumption during December 2025 remained exceptionally high, reflecting the seasonal uptick in travel, end-of-year logistics, and the increased use of petrol-powered generators by businesses. The NMDPRA’s data confirms that daily petrol consumption stood at 63.7 million litres per day, marking the highest figure since October 2024. This seasonal spike can largely be attributed to the holidays, where the demand for fuel intensifies due to mass travel, festive shopping, and more activities requiring fuel-powered transport.
With the price averaging ₦800 per litre during the period, total consumer spending on petrol in December 2025 was estimated at ₦1.58 trillion. While some parts of Nigeria experienced price variations especially in the north where many filling stations sold petrol above ₦800 the overall trend pointed to a significant financial burden on consumers during the holiday period. The Dangote Refinery’s intervention, which reduced petrol prices from ₦900 to ₦739 per litre in December, did little to reverse the upward trend in prices observed in many other regions.
Domestic Supply Surges: Dangote Refinery’s Contribution
The NMDPRA report also highlighted a notable increase in domestic petrol supply, with the Dangote refinery contributing 32 million litres per day to the national supply. This figure marks a substantial improvement from previous months, underscoring the refinery’s growing role in stabilizing fuel availability in Nigeria. In total, 74.2 million litres per day of petrol was supplied across the country in December 2025, with imports accounting for 42.2 million litres per day.
The increased contribution from the Dangote refinery, which supplied 992 million litres of petrol, has played a significant role in ensuring that Nigerians could access fuel throughout the month. Despite this, approximately 10 million litres per day were left unsupplied, a reminder of the ongoing challenges in meeting the country’s full fuel demand.
Petrol Spending: A Heavy Burden on Nigerian Households
The total ₦1.58tn spent on petrol in December 2025 underscores the high cost of fuel to the average Nigerian. This expenditure reflects not only the high demand but also the ongoing pressures of a fully deregulated downstream market where prices fluctuate based on market forces. While domestic production from the Dangote refinery and imports helped maintain availability, the sheer scale of consumer spending on fuel remains a critical issue for the Nigerian economy, particularly as petrol continues to absorb a significant portion of household and business budgets.