Six oil marketers receive fresh licences as Nigeria moves to strengthen petrol supply amid tighter global fuel markets….
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has authorised the importation of 830,000 tonnes of petrol for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The approval was confirmed by a source at the petroleum regulator, who said the licences had been issued to six oil marketing companies.
The development was first reported by S&P, which said the new import approvals were aimed at strengthening domestic petrol supply at a time when international fuel markets are facing increased pressure.
The source said the approved volume represents Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, imports for the October-to-December quarter.
The six companies granted the licences are Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy.
The latest allocations reportedly mirror the volumes and beneficiaries approved by the regulator in June for the third quarter of 2026.
According to the S&P report, NMDPRA issued a combined 830,000 metric tonnes of gasoline import permits to the six retailers for the quarter.
Dangote refinery renews opposition to petrol imports
The latest approval comes amid an ongoing disagreement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the NMDPRA over the continued licensing of petrol imports.
The controversy has intensified as Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity expands, with the Dangote refinery maintaining that increasing imports could undermine local refining operations.
In March, the NMDPRA relaxed restrictions on petrol imports and issued a fresh batch of licences to local marketers, citing the need to bridge supply gaps amid disruptions in international markets and the Middle East conflict.
The decision was followed by further legal action from the Dangote refinery.
In May, the refinery filed a fresh suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos challenging petrol import licences issued or renewed by the NMDPRA for fuel marketers.
The dispute has continued against a backdrop of changing domestic supply patterns.
Petrol imports rise as domestic supply falls
NMDPRA data released in August showed that Nigeria’s average daily domestic petrol supply fell to 25.8 million litres in July.
Over the same period, daily petrol imports increased to 19.7 million litres.
The figures have added to the debate over the country’s reliance on imported petrol despite the emergence of large-scale domestic refining capacity.
A day after the data was reported, the Dangote refinery said the increase in fuel imports was forcing it to export surplus petroleum products, despite its stated capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic petrol requirements.
The refinery argued that rising imports were affecting the ability of domestic refiners to fully serve the local market.
The latest NMDPRA licences now provide for another 830,000 tonnes of imported petrol to enter the Nigerian market during the final quarter of 2026, as regulators balance domestic supply requirements with the growing capacity of local refiners.
