Nigeria's average daily petrol supply rose to 47.4 million litres in May 2026, marking a 6.8 per cent increase from the 44.4 million litres recorded in April, even as fuel imports climbed sharply despite growing domestic refining capacity.
Data contained in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority's (NMDPRA) latest Midstream and Downstream Performance Report showed that the country's fuel market remained largely supported by local refineries particularly the Dangote Refinery, although imported volumes increased significantly during the month.
According to the report, domestic refineries supplied 41.5 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily in May, up from 40.7 million litres per day in April. The increase represents a 2.0 per cent growth in local petrol production and accounted for 87.6 per cent of total PMS supplied nationwide during the period.
However, petrol imports recorded the most significant movement in the market. Imported PMS volumes rose to 5.9 million litres per day from 3.7 million litres per day in April, representing a 59.5 per cent increase. As a result, imported products accounted for 12.4 per cent of total petrol supplied in May.
The increase in imports comes at a time when local refining activity is expanding, suggesting that marketers continued to supplement domestic production to meet nationwide demand and maintain supply stability across various distribution corridors. The figures also indicate that while local refining is increasingly meeting Nigeria's fuel requirements, imported products remain part of the country's supply mix.
The report further revealed a remarkable turnaround in the diesel market, where local refiners strengthened their dominance. Average daily supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, surged by 84.3 per cent to 18.8 million litres in May from 10.2 million litres in April.
Notably, the entire diesel volume supplied to the domestic market originated from local refineries which was lead by Dangote Refinery. Domestic AGO production jumped by 121.2 per cent from 8.5 million litres per day to 18.8 million litres per day, giving local refiners a 100 per cent share of diesel supply during the month.
In contrast, diesel imports, which stood at 1.7 million litres per day in April, fell to zero in May, representing a complete elimination of imported AGO from the country's supply basket. The development underscores the growing capacity of domestic refineries to meet national diesel demand and reduce Nigeria's reliance on foreign supplies.
Meanwhile, crude oil receipts by domestic refineries declined slightly during the review period. NMDPRA data showed that crude intake fell by 5.6 per cent to 578,000 barrels per day in May from 612,000 barrels per day in April. Despite the lower crude receipts, refiners increased output of key petroleum products, particularly diesel, pointing to improved operational efficiency and higher utilisation rates.
The latest statistics reinforce the ongoing transformation of Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector, where domestic refining is steadily gaining market share. While petrol imports remain necessary to bridge supply gaps and support market demand, the complete displacement of diesel imports highlights the increasing impact of local refining investments on the country's energy security and import dependence.