Wetin dey happen my people? E be like say, Nigeria still dey vex for petrol imports o! For 2025, na 62.47% of the petrol wey we consume na imported, even though Dangote refinery don start to dey produce.
This one no make sense sey, we still dey rely on foreign petrol, even as we get our own refineries like Dangote wey dey try for ground. According to the latest NMDPRA report, na about 18.97 billion litres of petrol wey Nigerians consume for 2025, and na importers bring 11.85 billion litres come, wahala dey!
But who fit blame dem? Na the history of our state-owned refineries wey don dey mismanage over the years na im make us dey chop foreign petrol, despite say we be Africa’s largest crude oil producer. Nigerians don tire from the waka waka waste wey dey happen for our refineries. The Dangote refinery wey dey work now don start cause as e dey lift our chances to reduce dis heavy import dependency.
The figures wey NMDPRA release show say, Dangote refinery provide about 7.54 billion litres, but na still short of wetin dem target am to produce. Dem believe say if government put 15% tax on foreign petrol import as dem plan, this one fit decrease the number of petrol imports for 2026.
So far, imports dey increase every time while the local refineries dey try to play catch-up. For December 2025, domestic supply rise high like eagle to 32 million litres daily – the best for the year! Still, e no cover reach the imports wey dey account for two-thirds of the demand. Dis na like pounded yam wey get small meat inside.
Despite say Dangote and other modular refineries dey function, importation still dey rule the market. Omo, wetin we go do? The market dynamics still dey show say we dey 40% independent now – better progress, but we still dey chop plenty foreign petrol. This one dey show say regulatory bodies need to get their act together to support local producers and reduce dis import wahala.
The energy economist talk am well, say we need to dey address marginal dependence on import instead of go dey shout say we don clear imports from our book. Na so we go fit build credible energy policy. Na only when we manage our local whims and caprices with correct strategy we go fit enjoy the full benefits of dangote refinery.
Omo, we fit only hope say 2026 go better as stakeholders dey work hard to improve local output and make Nigeria stand tall for petrol market. Let we all dey observe how this Nigerian movie dey unfold: Don’t blink!
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