Why Retailers and Marketers Are Still Importing Petrol Despite Dangote Refinery

Retailers and marketers of petroleum products have shed light on why Nigeria continues to import petrol, despite production from the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries. Stakeholders in the sector say that concerns over competitive pricing, market monopoly, and limited local production capacity are major reasons for the continued reliance on imported fuel.

In interviews with *Daily Post*, Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and Tunji Oyebanji, Chairman of the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), both emphasized that petrol retailers prioritize sources offering the most competitive prices—whether from the Dangote Refinery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), or foreign imports.

Their comments follow recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, which revealed that petrol imports surged by 105 percent to N15.4 trillion by the end of 2024. In February 2025 alone, fuel imports reached N930 billion, sparking renewed concern among downstream industry players.

According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), local refineries, including Dangote, Port Harcourt, and Warri, only met 50 percent of national fuel demand in February 2025. This claim was swiftly rejected by the Dangote Refinery’s management, which insists its $20 billion facility has the capacity to meet 100 percent of Nigeria’s petroleum needs.

Caught in the middle of conflicting reports, Nigerians are left uncertain. While NNPC has publicly stated that it has not imported any petrol in 2025, the ongoing imports by other marketers raise questions.

Gillis-Harry clarified that retailers are not avoiding Dangote Refinery, but prefer to keep options open to avoid monopolistic control of the market. He criticized abrupt price changes from refineries, noting that it creates instability for retailers. He cited a case where the price of petrol dropped overnight from N889 to N825 without prior notice, describing it as “unfair.”

He stressed the importance of fair competition, saying retailers must source from suppliers offering the best value. “We continue to buy petrol from all sources that are profitable to us, either NNPCL, Dangote Refinery, or through import,” he said.

Oyebanji echoed this stance, noting that local refineries are still not able to fully meet domestic demand. He argued that if supply and pricing were adequate, there would be no reason for any marketer to consider imports. He also dismissed concerns about increasing imports, suggesting some media narratives may be exaggerated or agenda-driven.

As of early March 2025, petrol prices across Nigeria range from N860 to N970 per litre, following price cuts by both Dangote and NNPC refineries earlier in the year. The Dangote Refinery began supplying petrol on October 15, 2024, with NNPC restarting production at its Port Harcourt and Warri plants in the months that followed.

Despite these developments, the market remains in flux, with stakeholders calling for a stable pricing structure and full liberalization of the downstream sector to ensure fair play and consistent supply for consumers.