Dangote Refinery boosts local supply as Middle East tensions push crude above $100 per barrel…..
Nigeria’s appetite for petrol continued to grow in April 2026 even as pump prices climbed sharply across the country following rising tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in the global oil market.
Fresh figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed that daily consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, jumped to 52.4 million litres in April from 47.3 million litres recorded in March.
The increase represents a 10.78 per cent rise in fuel demand within one month, despite Nigerians paying significantly more at filling stations nationwide.
The development comes at a time when global crude prices have remained under pressure due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Crude oil prices reportedly climbed above $106 per barrel on Wednesday as fears over supply disruptions intensified.
A major concern in the international market has been the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route controlled by Iran. The route has witnessed severe disruptions, forcing crude oil and fuel tankers to take longer alternative routes, further increasing costs in the energy market.
The ripple effect has been felt strongly in Nigeria, where petrol prices surged to an average of N1,370 per litre in April, compared to around N1,180 per litre in March.
Despite the higher prices, Nigerians consumed more petrol during the period, according to the NMDPRA data released on Tuesday.
The report also showed that combined petrol supply from local refining and imports rose to 44.4 million litres per day in April, representing a 10.7 per cent increase from the 40.1 million litres supplied daily in March.
A closer look at the figures highlighted the growing dominance of the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
Supply from the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery increased by 19 per cent to 40.7 million litres per day in April, up from 34.2 million litres recorded in March.
At the same time, petrol imports into Nigeria dropped sharply by 37.3 per cent, falling from 5.9 million litres per day in March to just 3.7 million litres in April.
The NMDPRA report further revealed that imported crude oil supply declined massively by 95.65 per cent within the same period. Imported crude dropped from 9.43 million barrels in March to only 0.41 million barrels in April.
Meanwhile, crude oil supplied by Nigerian upstream producers to local refineries rose significantly by 56 per cent, climbing to 17.99 million barrels from 11.48 million barrels recorded in March.
The regulator stated that the Dangote Refinery operated at 99.12 per cent capacity utilisation in April, reinforcing its growing influence on domestic fuel supply.
However, government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna remained inactive during the period despite repeated promises around rehabilitation and production restart timelines.
Nigeria’s crude oil production also recorded a modest increase in April. According to the report, total crude output, including condensates, rose to 1.663 million barrels per day from 1.546 million barrels per day in March.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions continue to dominate global oil discussions.
US President Donald Trump, speaking ahead of his trip to Beijing, insisted Washington remained in control of the Iran situation and dismissed suggestions that China’s intervention was necessary to end the crisis.
“We have Iran very much under control,” Trump told reporters while hinting at broader discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting.
On the other hand, Iran maintained a hardline position, insisting the United States must accept Tehran’s proposed peace framework or risk prolonged instability in the region.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said there was “no alternative” to accepting the country’s 14-point proposal, warning that any other approach would lead to repeated diplomatic failures.
With global oil markets still volatile and fuel prices remaining elevated, analysts say Nigerians may continue to face pressure at the pumps in the coming months, even as local refining capacity expands.
