Almost two weeks after Farouk Ahmed stepped down as chief govt of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the regulator has disclosed that petrol provide from the Dangote Refinery fell wanting official projections in November, whilst general gasoline availability throughout the nation elevated.
In its November 2025 State of the Midstream and Downstream Reality Sheet, NMDPRA stated the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, was anticipated to ship 35 million liters of petrol a day to the home market. Precise every day volumes averaged 23.52 million liters. The shortfall got here throughout a interval when Nigeria’s estimated petrol consumption eased to about 52.9 million liters a day, down from 56.7 million liters in October.
Imports drive Nigeria’s petrol provide surge
The regulator stated the decline in demand coincided with a pointy rise in whole petrol provide nationwide. Every day provide climbed to 71 million liters in November, in contrast with 46 million liters a day a month earlier. Imports accounted for the majority of that enhance, contributing 52.1 million liters a day, whereas native refineries, together with Dangote, equipped about 19.5 million liters.
NMDPRA attributed the upper provide to corrective motion taken after gasoline availability fell under nationwide wants in September and October. Officers stated further imports have been authorized to rebuild inventory ranges and cut back the chance of shortages as journey and industrial exercise sometimes rise towards the top of the 12 months.
The disclosure comes amid management modifications on the petroleum regulator. Ahmed resigned days after Dangote publicly referred to as for an investigation into media experiences that the previous chief govt paid about $5 million for the secondary schooling of his 4 youngsters in Switzerland. President Bola Tinubu has since forwarded the title of Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed to the Senate for affirmation as Ahmed’s alternative.
Dangote refinery fuels Nigeria’s demand
Commissioned in 2023 with an preliminary capability of 350,000 barrels a day, the Dangote Refinery started full petrol manufacturing in September 2024 and is regularly working towards its design capability of 650,000 barrels every day. The corporate has stated its aim is to scale back Nigeria’s reliance on imported gasoline and stabilize home provide.
Dangote has repeatedly stated the refinery plans to maintain gasoline flowing by the festive season. Throughout a latest go to by the South-South Growth Fee, he stated the plant would launch about 1.5 billion liters of petrol into the native market in December and one other 1.5 billion liters in January 2026, equal to roughly 50 million liters a day beginning December 1.
Output is anticipated to rise additional in February to about 60 million liters a day. He famous that present every day manufacturing already ranges between 40 million and 45 million liters. For regulators and customers alike, the November figures underline the hole between plans and supply at Africa’s largest refinery, whereas additionally highlighting the federal government’s continued reliance on imports to maintain gasoline stations equipped during times of excessive demand.
