Abeg, make we gist about wetin dey happen for Naija crude oil market this year. E get as naija don sharply increase im crude oil imports from United States. Last year, from January to October, we import 42.13 million barrels. Na serious jump from the 15.79 million barrels wey we carry enter ground for the same period last year.
Na 167 percent increase we dey talk about, brothers and sisters! Naija don truly move from local sourcing to importing like say we dey enjoy something for party. Dis change no be small matter, as e show say we dey rely more on US crude. Wetin dey cause this? Demand don rise and our local oil supply wan gree work well.
Last year, the import levels dey very shaky. But for 2025, na steady upward run we dey experience. Month by month, e dey clear say Naija dey waka strong. Like January, we no see import; but for February, we carry enter 3.11 million barrels. Small drop from February 2024, but e no last.
By March, we don jump enter 5.25 million barrels. E be like say Naija dey find balance, as we dey surpass wetin we fit achieve for March last year. April still dey shine small with 2.04 million barrels, and then May follow with 3.79 million. But na for June we collect hot cake—9.16 million barrels! Na almost nine times wetin we bring in June last year. Na so e be when demand don stack up for ground.
July and August still dey high, with steady 4.17 million in July, and sweet 6.24 million for August. This survey show say we dey enjoy consistency now for imports, unlike the hot and cold pattern wey dey happen last year.
Analysts dey point finger to say na because we dey depend on imported crude to feed our local refineries, including Dangote Refinery wey everybody dey talk about. E don clear now say na about three times wetin we import last year we dey carry enter our shores. But make we no lie, even as we dey produce oil, e still no dey match up with refining needs.
Federal Government don talk say between January and August 2025, dem supply 67,657,559 barrels of crude oil to local refiners, but na only 45 percent of wetin dem need. Local refineries dey cry for crude oil, as producers dey prefer sell to foreign buyers wey dey pay in dollars, leaving us here for Naija dey struggle.
People don dey sabi say the Dangote Refinery for Lagos don turn to serious US customer as e dey rely on imports to feed dem processing units. July alone, dat refinery don take 10 million barrels from the US. Even with naira-for-crude deal wey dey happen, US imports don carry large share for Dangote’s crude intake.
Kpler, wey dey gather all these commodity data, don confirm say 3.70k bpd (60 percent) of Dangote Refinery crude intake na from US. Wetin mean say na for the first time, US crude don pass Naija supply. Dis na serious matter wey show say Nigerian refineries still dey find way to get crude.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
