Nigeria witnessed a significant drop in fuel usage during June 2025, with fresh data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealing a total monthly evacuation of just over 1.44 billion litres marking a steep 16.42% decline compared to May’s volume.
This drop, which amounts to more than 290 million litres, underscores mounting pressure in the country’s petroleum distribution network.
George Ene-Ita, Director of Public Affairs at the NMDPRA, released the updated figures on Wednesday, clarifying previous reports that had underestimated daily fuel consumption. Contrary to an earlier claim of 38.94 million litres per day, Ene-Ita confirmed that Nigerians consumed an average of 48,025,604 litres daily in June, based on the revised monthly total spread across 30 days.
Sectoral Trends: Gasoline Plunges, Diesel Supply Up But Distribution Slumps
While total fuel supply shrank, the breakdown of petroleum product flows offers deeper insight into shifting consumption patterns.
Automotive Gasoline, widely used in private and commercial vehicles, experienced the most dramatic downturn. Supply volumes plunged by nearly 48%, falling from 72.36 million litres in May to just 37.66 million litres in June. Distribution of the product also declined by 16.54%, reinforcing concerns about limited availability or declining affordability for consumers.
In contrast, diesel (Automobile Gas Oil, AGO) saw a modest 1.73% increase in supply rising from 424.83 million litres to 432.18 million litres. However, this was overshadowed by a steep 23.23% drop in its distribution (truck-out), which slid from 552.35 million litres in May to 424.06 million litres in June. The discrepancy suggests a potential backlog in the supply chain or reduced industrial demand.
Household Kerosene (HHK), another vital fuel especially in rural areas, also saw both supply and distribution fall by 13%, from about 9 million litres in May to 7.79 million litres in June.
State-by-State Fuel Distribution: Lagos Tops the Chart
In terms of state-level distribution, Lagos led the pack with 205.66 million litres, accounting for a significant portion of the national fuel dispatch. Ogun followed with 88.69 million litres, while the Federal Capital Territory received 77.51 million litres. Oyo State came in fourth with 72.81 million litres for the month.
These figures highlight the continued dominance of Nigeria’s southwestern corridor in terms of fuel demand and supply logistics, likely due to high population density, urbanization, and proximity to key depots.
Sector Faces Strain, NMDPRA Vows Intervention
The overall decline in fuel supply and distribution signals persistent strains in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors. From infrastructural bottlenecks to possible economic dampeners on fuel demand, multiple factors could be contributing to the downturn.
In response, the NMDPRA has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with stakeholders across the value chain to stabilize distribution networks and ensure consistent nationwide supply of petroleum products.
As the sector grapples with evolving consumption trends and logistical challenges, the June figures serve as a critical reminder of the need for proactive regulation and robust infrastructure planning.
