Nigeria’s crude oil supply to domestic refineries fell by 6.3 per cent in September 2026, dropping to 15.97 million barrels from 17.05 million barrels in August. The decline came as petrol supplies from local refineries and imports also dropped sharply.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) disclosed this in its September 2026 Midstream and Downstream Report released on Thursday. The report showed that average daily petrol supply fell by 23.4 per cent, from 50.5 million litres in August to 38.7 million litres in September.
The NMDPRA attributed the drop to lower domestic supplies and reduced imports as approved import permit volumes ran out. The decline in crude oil supply also highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s petrol market during the month.
Between January and September 2026, refineries received 156.51 million barrels of crude oil. Domestic sources provided 125.85 million barrels, while imported crude accounted for 30.66 million barrels. This means local production supplied 80.4 per cent of total crude intake, with imports making up the remaining 19.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery recorded a utilisation rate of 105.98 per cent in September. It processed about 689,000 barrels of crude oil daily, exceeding its average receipts of 618,000 barrels per day. The refinery covered the shortfall of roughly 71,000 barrels per day by drawing on its existing crude stocks.
Despite the decline in crude oil supply, domestic refineries remained the main source of petrol, providing 73.6 per cent of total receipts in September. Imports supplied the remaining 26.4 per cent.
However, daily petrol supply remained below the 13-month average of 49.7 million litres. Domestic refineries supplied an average of 30.4 million litres daily during that period, while imports contributed 19.3 million litres.
How can Nigeria strengthen local refining and maintain a steady petrol supply?
