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Nigeria’s petroleum regulator is introducing stricter requirements for businesses seeking approval to import petrol, with access to licences expected to depend on whether local refineries can meet the country’s fuel demand.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the revised framework would establish clear conditions for granting import permits, ensuring that imported products address genuine shortages rather than undermine domestic refining operations.
The policy comes amid a significant shift in Nigeria’s fuel supply system, following increased output from local refineries. NMDPRA Chief Executive, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, disclosed at the 2026 OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos that domestic facilities now account for about 75 per cent of the petrol supplied to the Nigerian market.
Umar explained that the situation represented a major departure from the previous year, when imported petrol made up more than half of the country’s supply. He said the regulator would continue to monitor market conditions to ensure adequate availability while maintaining a competitive downstream petroleum industry.
Despite the growing contribution of local refineries, the authority maintained that imports could still play a role whenever domestic production falls short of national requirements. Umar emphasised that Nigeria needed a diversified supply system rather than depending excessively on a single refinery or source.
He also disclosed that the regulator was working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to revive government-owned refineries, while encouraging investment in smaller refining facilities to strengthen domestic production capacity.
Beyond import licensing, the NMDPRA is pursuing reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays and improving regulatory efficiency. The proposed changes include expanding digital services, simplifying approval procedures and extending the validity of certain licences from one year to five years where applicable.
Umar further stated that the authority would focus on ensuring fair competition and preventing market manipulation, adding that pump prices would continue to be determined by market forces rather than fixed directly by the regulator.
