NIGERIA IMPORTS 159,000 METRIC TONS OF PETROL DESPITE LOCAL PRODUCTION
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has imported 159,000 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between February 1 and February 12, 2025. This translates to approximately 213 million litres of petrol, according to a report tracking the movements of motor tanker vessels.
The report’s breakdown shows that NNPCL received several cargoes of PMS, including two shipments of 37,000 metric tons each on February 10, totaling 99.2 million litres. Additionally, the company received a cargo of 20,000 metric tons of PMS on February 8, equivalent to 26.82 million litres, and another cargo of 37,000 metric tons on February 12, approximately 50 million litres.
The imports were received at the Lagos ports, with an additional cargo of 20,000 metric tons of PMS received at the Calabar port on February 5. The data also reveals that NNPCL has imported 40,000 metric tons of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) in February, totaling over 40 million litres.
This revelation comes amidst a legal dispute between Dangote Refinery and NNPCL, as well as major oil marketers, over the importation of refined petroleum products despite local production. Energy experts and policy analysts have expressed concern over the continued importation of petroleum products that exceed the permissible sulphur limit, despite a January 2025 deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt cleaner fuels and vehicles.
The experts noted that Nigeria spent over N407.4 billion to import 302.7 million litres of petrol and 104.8 million litres of diesel in the first 12 days of February, following an ongoing trend of imports that has seen the country spend over N5.5 trillion on petrol and diesel imports between October 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025.
Other oil and gas retail and logistics companies also received shipments of both PMS and AGO. They include Rainoil, WOSBAB, MENJ, and FRADO, among others.
According to information from a source, despite the January 2025 deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the adoption of cleaner fuels and vehicles to reduce air pollution across the region, Nigeria has continued to import petroleum products that exceed the permissible sulphur limit under this
