Nigeria Suspends Petrol Import Licences, Boosts Domestic Fuel Supply
Story: written by Zara March 11,2026
Nigeria has halted the issuance of petrol import licences for a second straight month, prioritising domestic fuel production as regulators enforce rules limiting imports when local supply is sufficient.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) show that no import licences were granted in February, while the Crude Oil Refineries Association of Nigeria (CORAN) confirmed that none had been issued in March either.
Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), import licences are allowed only when domestic production falls short of national fuel demand. Regulators say current local output now meets that threshold, effectively preventing importers from bringing foreign fuel into the country.
The move is a major boost for the Dangote Refinery, which last year challenged both the regulator and the state oil firm in court to halt imports, arguing that licences were undercutting local refiners. In February alone, Dangote supplied 36.5 million litres of petrol and 8 million litres of diesel — figures deemed adequate by NMDPRA to justify suspending import permits.
The previous regulator had a different approach, maintaining that licences were needed to sustain market competition and prevent a monopoly by a single producer.
Meanwhile, global fuel prices have surged, with petrol pump prices in Nigeria climbing over 54 percent following recent US and Israeli military strikes on , which pushed crude markets higher. NMDPRA spokesperson George Ene-Ita linked the price spike directly to the Middle East conflict.
Domestic petrol consumption also fell slightly, averaging 56.9 million litres per day in February compared with 60.2 million litres in January.
CORAN spokesperson Eche Idoko welcomed the regulator’s decision, noting that protecting local refining is essential. “For us, anything that strengthens domestic production is a positive step. The challenge now is sustaining the momentum,” he said.
