Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator has approved the importation of 830,000 tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, for the fourth quarter of 2026, despite the growing contribution of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to the domestic fuel market.
The approval was granted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), with the permits issued to six retail companies on September 18, according to a report by The Guardian.
The latest allocation reportedly maintains the same beneficiary structure as the third-quarter approvals. The companies previously identified under the import programme include NIPCO, A.A. Rano, Matrix Energy, AYM Shafa, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, and Bono Energy.
The combined Q4 allocation of 830,000 tonnes is equivalent to roughly nine million barrels of petrol, although the actual volume delivered could vary depending on cargo specifications.
The development comes as Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity continues to expand, led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to recent NMDPRA data cited by The Guardian, domestic refineries supplied nearly 80 per cent of petrol available in Nigeria during the first six months of 2026, while imports accounted for just over 20 per cent.
The figures show how the market has changed as local refining increases. Before the recent expansion of domestic refining, Nigeria depended heavily on imported petrol to meet its daily fuel requirements.
However, the government’s decision to retain an import window suggests that imported products are still being considered part of the country’s supply security strategy.
The latest approvals also come at a time when international petroleum-product markets are facing tighter supply conditions and disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions.
Higher international fuel prices could affect the cost of imported petrol, particularly under Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market, where international product costs, crude prices, transportation and other logistics influence market prices.
The continued approval of imports is likely to keep attention on the balance between supporting local refineries and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply.
For motorists and businesses, the key issue will be whether the combination of domestic refining and imported supplies can provide adequate petrol availability while limiting the impact of international market volatility on pump prices.
The Q4 import approvals therefore underline that, despite the growing role of the Dangote Refinery, imported petrol remains part of Nigeria’s fuel-supply framework as the country enters the final quarter of 2026.