THE Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has approved fresh imports of petrol and diesel for the third quarter of 2026, even as Dangote Petroleum Refinery intensifies its legal challenge against fuel import licences issued to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
News Point Nigeria reports that the latest approvals, covering the July–September 2026 period, were issued amid concerns over declining fuel stock levels, projected supply shortfalls and reduced gasoline production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos.
According to a report published on Tuesday by global energy intelligence firm Argus Media, the fresh permits were granted to major downstream operators as authorities seek to prevent possible shortages in the domestic market while balancing growing local refining capacity with the need to guarantee adequate fuel supplies nationwide.
The report, which cited regulatory and industry sources, stated that domestic firms including AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono Energy, Nipco, Matrix Energy and Pinnacle Oil received approvals to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, during the third quarter.
It added that the same companies, except Nipco, also secured permits to import Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The latest approvals followed an earlier batch of petrol import licences issued in May covering approximately 720,000 metric tonnes.
Quoting a regulatory source, Argus reported that many of the companies granted the new approvals were among those that had previously received import permits.
“These are some of the same ones that previously received the PMS permits,” the source was quoted as saying.
According to sources cited in the report, AA Rano and Matrix Energy each received approvals to import 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol, while AYM Shafa obtained approval for 120,000 metric tonnes and Pinnacle Oil received a permit for 150,000 metric tonnes.
For diesel imports, AYM Shafa secured approval for 60,000 metric tonnes, while Pinnacle received a permit covering 45,000 metric tonnes.
The report stated that the approvals were issued after delays beyond an initial target date of June 15.
Argus quoted a regulatory source as saying the permits were approved specifically to prevent anticipated supply gaps in Nigeria’s fuel market.
“The permits were issued to head off projected shortfalls in supply,” the source said.
“Issuance is still ongoing, so the final volume cannot be determined right now. But gasoline permits will likely be above 800,000T.”
If realised, the projected volume would exceed the total quantity approved under the second-quarter import programme.
The approvals come as fuel inventories show signs of tightening. Data referenced by Argus indicated that petrol stock sufficiency declined by 1.7 days to 16 days in May, while diesel stock sufficiency dropped by eight days to 31 days during the same period.
The report linked the decline partly to lower gasoline production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to figures cited by Argus, gasoline production at the refinery fell by 16 per cent to 44.7 million litres per day, while diesel production increased by four per cent to 24.5 million litres daily.
Industry sources attributed the reduction in petrol output to maintenance work on the refinery’s Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker, one of its major gasoline-producing units.
Argus reported that a source close to the refinery described suggestions linking increased exports of low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil and the maintenance programme as “partially correct” but declined further comment.
The publication also noted that the Dangote refinery did not respond to requests for comments.
Argus further stated that recent declines in international fuel prices could make imports more attractive to independent marketers.
According to the report, front-month Eurobob oxy swaps, increasingly used as the benchmark for gasoline trading in West Africa, averaged $946.25 per tonne in June, compared to $1,128.50 per tonne during the same period in May.
Similarly, offshore Lomé ship-to-ship diesel prices averaged $1,093.50 per tonne in June, down from $1,409.25 per tonne in May.
The lower prices are expected to improve import economics for marketers seeking to supplement domestic supply.
Despite the availability of import permits, however, the report suggested that marketers may not fully utilise all approved volumes.
According to preliminary vessel-tracking data from Kpler cited by Argus, independent marketers are expected to import about 354,000 metric tonnes of petrol during the current quarter.
The figure is significantly lower than the 720,000 metric tonnes approved under the second-quarter programme.
Sources attributed the gap partly to the timing of approvals, noting that marketers had limited time to execute import plans because permits were issued midway through the quarter.
The latest approvals come against the backdrop of a renewed legal battle by Dangote Petroleum Refinery over fuel import licences.
It could be recalled that in May, Dangote Petroleum Refinery filed a fresh lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Federation seeking to overturn import licences issued to marketers and the NNPCL.
News Point Nigeria had reported that the NMDPRA months ago issued six licences to marketers for the importation of petrol, insisting that imported fuel remains necessary to complement domestic supply.
Court documents seen by this newspaper showed that the refinery is seeking to invalidate import permits granted to the NNPCL and several traders.
The development followed a similar legal action that Dangote withdrew in 2025 after intervention by the Federal Government.
President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has repeatedly argued that petrol imports should no longer be permitted while the refinery has sufficient stock and capacity to meet domestic demand.
The new suit asks the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import permits issued or renewed by the NMDPRA, arguing that they violate an earlier court order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
Dangote contends that the licences undermine the refinery’s operations and contravene provisions of the law, which, according to the company, permit imports only when domestic production is insufficient.
Regulators and marketers, however, have consistently maintained that imports remain necessary to guarantee adequate supply and prevent shortages.
Recently, the NMDPRA issued licences to six marketers for the importation of 720,000 metric tonnes of petrol.
The marketers include NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix, Shafa, Pinnacle and Bono.
The regulator has also maintained that the Dangote refinery currently supplies more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption requirements.
Findings showed that under the earlier approval, NIPCO was allocated 120,000 metric tonnes; AA Rano, 150,000 metric tonnes; Matrix, 150,000 metric tonnes; Shafa, 120,000 metric tonnes; Pinnacle, 120,000 metric tonnes; and Bono, 60,000 metric tonnes.
An NMDPRA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, confirmed that the import licences were issued.
Meanwhile, during a recent interview with Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund Chief Executive Officer, Nicolai Tangen, Dangote disclosed that the refinery is currently operating at 661,000 barrels per day.
He also highlighted the benefits of recent geopolitical developments, including the US-Iran conflict, for the refinery and fertiliser businesses.
Dangote further stated that the company had demonstrated its capacity by building, commissioning and operating a refinery of such scale in Nigeria, noting that output had exceeded its nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.