Petrol Demand Surged To 63.7 Million Litres Per Day In December
Imports drop to 42.2m litres per day from 52.1m litres per day
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) consumption across the country rose by 10.8 million litres per day to 63.7 million litres in December 2025, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
This figure, representing trucked-out volumes into the domestic market, exceeded the 2025 benchmark of 50 million litres per day by 27 per cent, the NMDPRA stated in its Factsheet for December 2025.
The data reflects volumes actually trucked out into the domestic market, underscoring robust demand from transport, households, and industries during the festive period.
NMDPRA credited robust domestic refinery output, spearheaded by Dangote, for maintaining supply stability despite the sharp demand spike during the yuletide season.
According to the report, Dangote Refinery’s output rose sharply from 19.5 million litres per day in November to 32 million litres per day, with the refinery achieving 64.02 per cent average capacity utilisation and peaking at 71 per cent.
The NMDPRA December 2025 State of the Midstream and Downstream Fact Sheet also shows that the Dangote Refinery supplied an average of 5.783 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) per day in the month under review.
The data sparks worries about Nigeria’s recent decision to impose a tariff on petrol imports, given local refineries’ struggle to meet demand.
On 13 November 2025, the Nigerian government said the implementation of a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel, announced by President Bola Tinubu in October, was “no longer in view”.
The tariff would have aimed to “strengthen local refining capacity and ensure a stable, affordable supply of petroleum products across Nigeria.”
The policy, however, was met with criticism from various stakeholders, energy experts, and civil society groups, who argued that it would lead to higher fuel prices and worsen the country’s economic situation.
Following the approval at the time, Dangote Refinery, West Africa’s largest oil refiner, said petrol imports were unnecessary, adding that it produces enough petrol and diesel for local consumption.
According to the data, Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption increased to an average of 63.7 million litres in December 2025, compared to 52.9 million litres recorded in November 2025 and 56.7 million litres recorded in October 2025.
The data showed that 42.2 million litres of petrol were imported daily into the country, while domestic refineries supplied 32.0 million litres per day.
The NMDPRA said the domestic supply is volumes received into coastal depots plus volumes trucked out from domestic refineries.
“Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply in December 2025 increased due to a significant improvement in supply from Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) (19.5 ML/day to 32 ML/day),” the report said.
State-owned refineries’ performance
According to the report, no production activities took place at the Port Harcourt Refinery, as the refinery remained in shutdown mode.
However, it said the evacuation of prior AGO produced while the refinery was operational before 24 May 2025 averaged 0.247 million litres per day.
It added that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited remain shut down.
Other products mirrored the uptick in consumption, as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) averaged 16.4 million litres per day against a 14 million litre benchmark, Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) recorded 2.7 million litres per day versus 3 million litres, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) reached 4,380 metric tonnes per day compared to the 3,900 metric tonnes norm.
These consumption pressures tested national stockpiles, yet NMDPRA noted improved sufficiency across fuels: PMS stocks endured 29 days in total (25.1 days inland, 4.2 days marine), a 77 per cent improvement from November’s 16.5 days; AGO held 25 days; ATK, 20 days; LPG, 8 days; and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), a robust 51 days.
The agency clarified that PMS sufficiency excluded Dangote Petroleum Refinery Products (DPRP) stocks reserved specifically for domestic consumption, suggesting even greater buffers.
The Factsheet also showed that domestic PMS supply hit 32.01 million litres per day in December, propelled by exceptional performance from the Dangote Refinery.
Modular refineries bolstered diesel supply, delivering a combined 0.392 million litres per day of AGO, NMDPRA added.
Waltersmith produced 0.051 million litres per day at 63.24 per cent utilisation but operated only 13 days due to pre-commissioning of its Train 2 expansion; Edo Refinery supplied 0.052 million litres per day at 85.43 per cent; and Aradel contributed 0.289 million litres per day at 53.89 per cent utilisation.
However, OPAC and Duport remained shut down, the fact sheet noted, while Waltersmith’s Train 2 (5,000 barrels per stream day) completed pre-commissioning ahead of hydrocarbon introduction by January 2026.
In the gas sector, the NMDPRA announced key infrastructure advances, including the issuance of one new refinery establishment licence and one construction licence (LTC) during December.
These developments, absent from November reporting, underscore growing investor interest in local refining capacity.
Also, wholesale supply averaged 4.787 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscfd), with 2.912 Bscfd allocated to Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Trains 1–6 at 82.67 per cent utilisation and 1.875 Bscfd to domestic markets (0.586 Bscfd for power generation and 0.430 Bscfd for gas-based industries), the regulator stated.
Gas exports included 113,236 metric tonnes per day of LNG (equivalent to 51,106 MT/day) and 0.124 Bscfd via the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
LPG domestic production reached 5,201 metric tonnes per day against 4,380 metric tonnes consumption, with imports contributing less than 30 per cent, NMDPRA reported.
The regulator said that retail LPG prices ranged from N1,120 to N1,600 per kilogram nationwide.
On pump prices, NMDPRA provided indicative PMS rates based on Dated Brent crude at $62.68 per barrel, gasoline at $657.32 per metric tonne, and an NFEM exchange rate of N1,450.97 per dollar: N832.31 per litre in Lagos up to N900.49 in Maiduguri.
It said actual market averages proved higher—N861 in Lagos to N952.50 in Abuja—with peaks hitting N975 in Abuja and Maiduguri, the fact sheet indicated.