Nigeria's refining shortfalls have led to the importation of over 5 billion liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel between October 2024 and January 2025, underscoring the country's persistent dependence on foreign fuel. According to industry data, approximately 3.2 million metric tonnes of PMS and 980,485 metric tonnes of diesel were imported during this period, translating to around 4.29 billion liters of petrol and 1.153 billion liters of diesel.

The total value of Nigeria's petrol and diesel imports from October 2024 to January 2025 exceeded N5.5 trillion, based on average landing costs. In January 2025 alone, NNPC and petroleum marketers imported over 458 million liters of petrol and 174 million liters of diesel. Several oil marketers, including BOVAS, Eternal Oil, and Rainoil, participated in these imports, alongside the NNPC.

The continued reliance on fuel imports has contributed to the devaluation of the naira and highlights the country's inability to increase domestic refining capacity. Despite efforts to revamp the refining sector, Nigeria remains heavily reliant on foreign fuel, which has significant implications for the country's economy and energy security.

In a related development, Dangote Group, Nigeria's largest refinery operator, is embroiled in a court battle with the Nigerian government. The refinery is seeking a court order to stop the government from issuing import licenses to petrol importers, arguing that it can meet Nigeria's petrol needs. Dangote expressed frustration over continued imports, encouraging the NNPC and marketers to collect products from his refinery instead of buying from abroad.

However, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) countered this claim, stating that Dangote Refinery is incapable of filling the gap in Nigeria's petrol supply. Idris Musa, a senior regulatory officer, emphasized that the NMDPRA's primary function is to ensure a vibrant petroleum sector operated in line with international best practices, while also maintaining national energy security and preventing market abuse and unhealthy monopolies.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has announced the start of petrol production at the Port Harcourt refinery after extensive rehabilitation. The refinery consists of two units, with the old plant refining 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant refining 150,000 bpd, totaling 210,000 bpd. A month later, NNPC also announced that the Warri refinery had resumed operations, focusing on producing and storing key products like Straight Run Kerosene, Automotive Gas Oil, and Naphtha.

Despite these developments, the national oil company has continued to import fuel, contradicting earlier commitments. This has raised concerns about the country's ability to achieve energy self-sufficiency and reduce its reliance on foreign fuel. As Nigeria continues to grapple with refining shortfalls, the implications for the country's economy and energy security remain significant.

In conclusion, Nigeria's refining shortfalls and continued reliance on foreign fuel highlight the need for urgent action to revamp the refining sector and achieve energy self-sufficiency. The government and industry stakeholders must work together to address the underlying issues and develop a sustainable solution to Nigeria's energy challenges.