Even though Dangote Refinery and other local refineries are producing petrol, Nigeria still imports fuel. Stakeholders in the petroleum industry say this is due to price competition, supply gaps, and concerns over monopoly.

The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association, Billy Gillis-Harry, and the Chairman of the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, Tunji Oyebanji, spoke about the issue.

They explained that fuel marketers buy from different sources, including Dangote Refinery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and imports.

Gillis-Harry pointed out that retailers always go for the best prices. He criticized situations where Dangote Refinery suddenly lowers prices without informing partners. He stressed that price stability and healthy competition are necessary to prevent a monopoly in the fuel market.

“A situation where one refinery changes prices suddenly is not fair to retailers. We buy from different sources, including imports, when it is profitable,” he said.

Oyebanji added that local refineries do not yet produce enough petrol to meet Nigeria’s full demand.

This gap in supply is why fuel is still being imported. He also noted that the reports of rising fuel imports in 2025 are misleading, as they refer to data from 2024.

In recent months, both Dangote Refinery and NNPC have adjusted fuel prices several times. Currently, petrol prices range from N860 to N970 per liter across the country. Dangote Refinery, which started supplying petrol in October 2024, and NNPC’s Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which resumed operations in late 2024, are working to meet demand.

However, until local refineries can fully supply the market at competitive prices, fuel importation will likely continue.