Petrol imports surge 207% in June as domestic supply declines — NMDPRA

By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

Nigeria’s petrol imports surged by 207 per cent in June 2026, reversing earlier gains recorded in domestic refining as local supply declined sharply, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

An analysis of the authority’s monthly petrol supply data for the first six months of 2026 showed that while domestic refineries remained the major source of supply for most of the period, imports increased significantly in June following a drop in local output.

In January, petrol imports averaged 24.8 million litres per day (ml/d), accounting for 38.2 per cent of total supply, while domestic supply stood at 40.1ml/d, representing 61.8 per cent of the 64.9ml/d average daily supply.

The following month, imports declined sharply to 3.0ml/d, accounting for 9.3 per cent of total supply, as domestic supply rose to 29.4ml/d, representing 90.7 per cent of the combined 32.4ml/d daily supply.