Date: March 10, 2026
Reporter: Mr Johnson
News Platform: Dalena Reporters
Nigeria spent an estimated ₦88 trillion on petrol imports in 2025, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), highlighting the country’s continued dependence on imported fuel despite being one of Africa’s largest crude-oil producers.
The statistics show that petrol, officially known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), remained one of Nigeria’s largest import expenses throughout the year. The massive import bill reflects the country’s long-standing challenge of insufficient domestic refining capacity, forcing the government and private fuel marketers to rely heavily on foreign supply to meet national demand.
Nigeria Still Relies Heavily On Imported Fuel
Despite producing crude oil in large quantities, Nigeria has struggled for decades to refine enough petroleum products locally. As a result, refined fuel must be imported from international markets to supply the country’s growing population and expanding transport sector.
Previous NBS data shows that Nigeria spent about ₦5.3 trillion importing petrol during the first three quarters of 2025 alone, demonstrating the scale of the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
Energy analysts say the high import costs are driven by several factors, including foreign exchange fluctuations, rising global oil prices, logistics costs, and the limited operational capacity of local refineries.
Demand For Petrol Remains High
Fuel consumption in Nigeria continues to increase, placing additional pressure on the country’s energy supply chain. Estimates suggest daily petrol demand has climbed above 50 million litres per day, with imports often supplying a large share of the national requirement.
Although some domestic refining has resumed in recent years, local production still falls short of meeting the country’s total demand, forcing marketers to bridge the gap through imports.
Government Push For Local Refining
In response to the heavy financial burden of fuel imports, the Nigerian government has taken steps aimed at boosting local refining capacity. Major investments such as the Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest refinery project, were launched to help reduce reliance on foreign fuel supply.
Authorities have also explored policy measures including import duties and other reforms designed to protect domestic refiners and stabilize the downstream petroleum sector.
However, experts say Nigeria’s transition to fuel self-sufficiency will take time, particularly as infrastructure upgrades and refinery operations continue to develop.
Economic Implications
The huge cost of petrol imports has significant implications for Nigeria’s economy, including pressure on foreign exchange reserves and increased vulnerability to global oil market fluctuations.
Economists warn that unless domestic refining capacity expands substantially, Nigeria may continue to spend billions of dollars annually importing fuel—despite being one of the world’s major crude-oil producers.
For many Nigerians, the figures highlight a persistent paradox: a major oil-producing nation still dependent on importing the fuel it consumes.