We’ve been hearing about “ending the queues” for a long time, but 2026 feels like a genuine tipping point because of the sheer scale of what’s finally coming online.
Historically, fuel queues were often caused by “vessel-to-depot” delays. With these refineries running, the supply chain shifts from international shipping to local trucking and pipelines.
By refining locally, Nigeria significantly cuts the massive demand for USD to import fuel. This should help stabilize the Naira, though the landing cost of petrol remains a sensitive topic tied to global crude prices.
​While the production is ramping up, two “ghosts” still haunt the system. If the roads are bad or the pipelines are being tapped, the fuel still can’t get to the stations efficiently.
There is a constant tug-of-war between “market-reflective pricing” and what the average Nigerian can actually afford.
We are closer to “fuel security” than we have been in decades. If the Port Harcourt refinery hits its Q2 targets consistently, those frustrating queues might finally become a memory rather than a monthly routine.
