Dangote Refinery Boosts Nigeria’s Petrol Supply by 64% After Leadership Shift
Story: written by Joseph January 16,2026
Nigeria’s domestic petrol supply from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has jumped by about 64%, reaching an average of 32 million litres per day, following operational improvements at the Lekki-based facility, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The regulator’s December 2025 fact sheet shows that average daily Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply rose to 32.01 million litres, up from roughly 19.5 million litres in November. Industry experts describe this as one of the strongest monthly gains since the refinery began phased operations.
The surge follows internal restructuring and closer coordination among regulators, operators, and off-takers after the exit of Farouk Ahmed as NMDPRA chief executive. In December, the Dangote Refinery contributed about 5.78 million litres per day to the national supply, supported by improved refinery utilisation and efficient evacuation of products to coastal depots and domestic markets.
Data from NMDPRA shows that the refinery achieved a peak capacity utilisation of approximately 71% in December, while average utilisation across all domestic refineries reached over 63%, indicating stabilisation after intermittent operations earlier in 2025.
The improved local output lifted national petrol sufficiency to around 29 days, a significant increase from September and October when domestic supply lagged behind demand. Nigeria’s daily petrol demand benchmark for 2025 is 50 million litres, though December truck-out consumption averaged 63.7 million litres, reflecting cross-border demand and stock accumulation during the festive season.
The regulator attributed the rebound in PMS availability to higher Dangote Refinery output, strategic imports by NNPC, and efforts to rebuild national inventories. Some vessels originally scheduled for October discharges were delayed to November, further supporting supply in December.
Aliko Dangote, president and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, reaffirmed the refinery’s commitment to meeting domestic petrol needs alongside export production. “Our priority is to ensure Nigeria receives the products it needs. This is not driven by profit; it is about guaranteeing essential energy supply,” he said.
Analysts say the sustained rise in Dangote’s output is key to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports and stabilising pump prices as the refinery approaches full capacity. Average PMS prices in November ranged between N910 and N982.50 per litre, influenced by exchange rates and global fuel costs, despite improved domestic refining.
Other products showed mixed results: diesel supply from local refineries remained limited due to shutdowns, while modular refineries contributed about 0.39 million litres per day. Cooking gas (LPG) production remained strong, covering more than 70% of domestic supply in December.
Regulators expect Dangote Refinery’s domestic role to expand further in 2026 as operational bottlenecks ease. With planned domestic PMS supply at 50 million litres per day, consistent refinery performance is crucial for closing Nigeria’s petrol gap and strengthening fuel security in the post-subsidy era.
