Nigeria has, for the first time on record, imported crude oil from Libya, marking a significant shift in the country's crude sourcing strategy as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increasingly looks beyond domestic supplies to sustain its operations.
The historic shipment underscores the growing pressure on local refiners, which have repeatedly complained about inadequate access to Nigerian crude despite the country's status as Africa's leading oil producer. With a large portion of Nigeria's crude production continuing to be exported, refiners have increasingly turned to international markets to secure feedstock.
According to data published by the Energy Research Unit and reported by Libya Review, Nigeria imported approximately 64,500 barrels of Libyan crude oil per day in May 2026, amounting to about two million barrels for the month.
The report described the development as a landmark in Libya's export history.
"The shipment marks the first recorded Nigerian import of Libyan crude in available historical data dating back to 2013," the report said.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, currently the country's largest crude importer, is believed to be the main recipient of the Libyan cargoes as it continues to diversify its supply sources to meet its rising processing capacity.
The latest development also represents a major turnaround from 2024, when reports emerged that Dangote Refinery was negotiating with Libya for crude supplies. At the time, Libya's National Oil Corporation publicly dismissed the reports.
The corporation stated:
"The National Oil Corporation denies that it has negotiated or entered into any talks regarding the supply of crude oil to an oil refinery in Nigeria."
The Libyan authority further stressed that it remained committed to its existing international contracts and established sales procedures.
It added:
"In addition, the process of determining raw material prices is carried out through a committee of experts and is approved by the corporation and the Ministry of Oil and Gas."
Nearly two years later, however, the arrival of about two million barrels of Libyan crude suggests that commercial arrangements have now been successfully concluded, even though details of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
The refinery's growing appetite for crude has become increasingly evident as it ramps up production. Dangote Refinery is targeting a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and has projected plans to increase throughput to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, making diversified crude sourcing a strategic necessity.
Industry data from S&P Global Energy indicates that, in 2026 alone, the refinery has imported several international crude grades, including Angola's Cabinda and Saxi Batuque blends, Ghana's Jubilee crude, Guyanese crude and, for the first time, Libyan supplies. These grades are predominantly light sweet and medium sweet crudes, which are well suited to the refinery's configuration.
The Libyan imports come against the backdrop of persistent concerns over Nigeria's Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, which local refiners argue has not been fully implemented.
Official figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria show that the country produced about 216.85 million barrels of crude oil between January and May 2026. During the same period, approximately 148.9 million barrels—valued at about N20.22 trillion—were exported by both international and indigenous oil companies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited).
This means that roughly 68.7 per cent of Nigeria's crude production during the five-month period was shipped overseas, leaving an estimated 67.95 million barrels available for domestic refining, storage, operational requirements and inventory adjustments.
The imbalance has continued to fuel complaints from domestic refiners, who argue that insufficient local crude allocations have forced them to source supplies from foreign producers despite operating within one of the world's major oil-producing nations.
Global market conditions have also contributed to the changing trade pattern. Supply disruptions linked to tensions involving the United States and Iran, alongside concerns over shipping through the Gulf region, have created new opportunities for Libyan crude to gain greater market share across Africa and Europe.
Beyond Nigeria, Libya has strengthened its energy trade with several neighbouring countries.
Egypt resumed imports of Libyan crude in 2026 after several years, purchasing around 33,000 barrels per day in April following imports of 57,000 barrels per day in February. The imports form part of Cairo's strategy to diversify crude supplies through agreements covering more than one million barrels monthly.
Tunisia has also increased purchases, importing approximately 19,000 barrels per day in March and another 10,000 barrels per day in May after previously making only occasional purchases of Libyan crude.
Italy remained Libya's biggest export destination in May, importing about 348,000 barrels per day—roughly one-third of the country's total crude exports—while Greece, Spain and Turkey also ranked among its leading customers.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery has continued expanding its international crude procurement strategy. It recently purchased two cargoes of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, marking its first-ever acquisition of Middle Eastern crude and signalling a broader diversification of its feedstock sources beyond Nigeria, Africa and the United States.
The refinery's evolving sourcing strategy reflects both its rapidly expanding refining ambitions and the continuing challenge of securing sufficient domestic crude supplies despite Nigeria's significant oil production.