The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has granted licences to import 830,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the fourth quarter of 2026. The approval covers six major petroleum marketers and is aimed at meeting the expected surge in demand during the Christmas and end‑of‑year travel season.
The six beneficiaries of the latest licence are Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy. They have previously received allocations of 180,000 MT in Q1, 720,000 MT in Q2 and more than 800,000 MT in Q3 of 2026.
Domestic refining has been expanding, with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplying a growing share of the market. NMDPRA data show that refineries supplied about 76.7 % of Nigeria’s total petrol supply in the first quarter of 2026, while imports fell by roughly 60 % year‑on‑year to around 965.5 million litres.
“It’s their statutory obligation. It is their role as watchman of the industry. They are doing their job as NMDPRA,” said IPMAN Public Relations Officer Chief Chinedu Ukadike. “The issue is availability. Issuing the licence is not availability. It is those that this licence has been issued, the ability to bring in products to compete with the local refinery, that is the challenge.”
IPMAN added that the licences will only benefit consumers if the landing cost of imported petrol is lower than locally refined fuel. “If their product will be cheaper than that of Dangote, it will be a welcome development. But if it’s higher than that of Dangote, I think that it is an exercise in futility,” Ukadike said.
Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has ordered its members nationwide to check dispensing meters after the NMDPRA raised concerns about under‑dispensing. PETROAN National President Billy Gillis‑Harry urged retailers to ensure that fuel is sold one litre for one litre and advised motorists to monitor meter readings and keep receipts.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
