NMDPRA Grants Import Permits to Six Marketers Amid Dangote’s Dominance in Petrol Supply

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has issued import permits for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS, commonly known as petrol) to six depot owners and petroleum marketers, a move industry experts describe as a strategic effort to maintain supply diversity and market stability in the downstream sector.

According to reliable industry sources familiar with the regulator’s activities, each of the six approved importers has been authorized to bring in approximately 30,000 metric tonnes of petrol.

The approvals represent a notable policy adjustment, as no fresh petrol import permits had been issued under the current NMDPRA leadership until recently.

This development comes against the backdrop of Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s overwhelming share of the domestic petrol market. Official data from the NMDPRA’s February 2026 fact sheet shows that local refining primarily from the Dangote facility supplied an average of 36.5 million litres per day, accounting for roughly 92% of total national supply.

Imports contributed only about 3 million litres daily, bringing the overall average to around 39.5 million litres per day.

Dangote Refinery remains the only major facility in Nigeria currently producing petrol at scale, while most modular refineries focus primarily on diesel and other products.

A senior industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of regulatory matters, described the issuance of these permits as a deliberate step to preserve supply options and flexibility.

“Until recently, no petrol import permits had been granted, reflecting the sufficiency of local output,” the source noted. “These new approvals signal a balanced approach to avoid over-reliance on a single source as the domestic refining ecosystem matures.”

The permits are seen as a buffer against potential disruptions, ensuring the market remains adaptable even as local production continues to grow.

This aligns with provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which allows imports only when domestic supply falls short of demand but also permits measured interventions to safeguard competition and stability.

The move has sparked discussions on balancing support for indigenous refining giants like Dangote with the need to prevent monopolistic tendencies and maintain resilient supply chains in Africa’s largest oil-producing nation.