Nigeria’s average daily consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, declined in February 2026 as the country’s domestic refining capacity continues to reshape the nation’s fuel supply structure.
Data released in a factsheet by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that daily petrol consumption fell to 56.9 million litres in February, compared with 60.2 million litres recorded in January.
The report also pointed to a significant shift in Nigeria’s traditional fuel supply pattern, which for decades relied heavily on imports. Historically, locally refined petrol contributed less than 20 per cent of national supply, but recent developments indicate a gradual change in that structure.
According to the regulator, the growing presence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in the domestic market is beginning to influence supply dynamics. The facility’s large-scale refining capacity is increasingly supporting local availability of petrol and reducing the pressure on imports.
As a result, petrol imports dropped markedly during the month, declining by about 25.4 million litres per day as reduced importation coincided with improved domestic production.
Industry checks indicate that the rise in locally refined products has strengthened Nigeria’s fuel security. The NMDPRA noted that the country maintained roughly 31 days of petrol sufficiency stock in February 2026, suggesting improved stability in national supply.
Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer of Petroleumprice.ng, Jeremiah Olajide, said the integration of Dangote Refinery’s inventory into national supply calculations reflects the refinery’s growing strategic importance.
He explained that the refinery is increasingly acting as a buffer for the downstream petroleum sector at a time when global fuel markets remain volatile.
According to him, the emergence of large-scale domestic refining capacity is gradually transforming Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, lowering reliance on imports while improving the country’s ability to maintain stable petrol availability.
“For decades, Nigeria depended almost entirely on imported petrol due to the underperformance of state-owned refineries,” Olajide noted, adding that the ramp-up in output from the Dangote Refinery is now beginning to alter that long-standing structure.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a significant reduction in the prices of petrol and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, in a move aimed at easing financial pressure on consumers.
Under the revised pricing framework, the gantry price of petrol has been cut from ₦1,175 to ₦1,075 per litre, representing a reduction of ₦100. The coastal price was also lowered from ₦1,150 to ₦1,028 per litre, a decrease of ₦122.
Diesel prices were similarly reduced from ₦1,620 to ₦1,430 per litre, translating to a ₦190 drop.
The refinery said the price adjustments reflect its commitment to maintaining a pricing system that responds to global market conditions while upholding principles of fairness and transparency.
According to the company, crude oil processed at the refinery is purchased at the global benchmark price with an additional premium of between $3 and $6. Payments for foreign exchange are made at prevailing market rates, without any subsidy applied to crude purchases or currency transactions.
It added that crude supplied under the naira-for-crude arrangement is also priced in line with the global benchmark plus the applicable premium before being converted to naira using the prevailing exchange rate.
The refinery further disclosed that throughout 2025 it reduced its gantry prices at least eight times, increasing them only twice — a strategy it described as part of its commitment to economic patriotism and responsibility to Nigerian consumers.
“We remain committed to ensuring that any cost advantages are passed on to consumers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” the company stated.