By Iqrom Tesilim
Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption has witnessed a notable decline, dropping to 56.9 million litres per day in February 2026, compared to 60.2 million litres per day in January, according to data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
This decrease in demand is unfolding against the backdrop of evolving dynamics in the country’s domestic fuel market, driven in part by the growing influence of local refining capacity.
A key factor contributing to this shift is the performance of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which saw its petrol supply drop to 36.5 million litres per day in February, down from 40.1 million litres per day in January.
This decline has had a ripple effect on overall domestic petrol supply, which plummeted to 39.6 million litres per day in February, compared to 64.9 million litres per day in the previous month.
The data highlights the ongoing adjustments within Nigeria’s downstream sector as supply sources and distribution patterns continue to evolve.
Despite the presence of the large private refinery, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries remain largely inactive, contributing minimally to petrol output during the period under review.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, Kaduna Refinery, and Warri Refinery recorded no petrol production in February, underscoring the country’s persistent dependence on private refining capacity and imports to meet domestic fuel demand.
However, the state-owned refineries are not entirely dormant, as previously produced diesel stocks are still being evacuated from the Port Harcourt refinery at an average of 0.392 million litres per day, while the Kaduna refinery released diesel inventories to the market at about 0.027 million litres per day during the month.
These developments underscore the complexities and challenges facing Nigeria’s petroleum sector as it navigates the transition towards greater local refining capacity and a more diversified fuel supply mix.
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