The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has officially authorised the importation of 830,000 metric tonnes, equivalent to approximately 6.97 million barrels of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026 to guarantee adequate energy supply ahead of the upcoming Yuletide festivities.
​The regulatory approvals, finalised on September 18, 2026, were issued from the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja and granted to six licensed retail oil marketing companies. The allocation matches the Q3 import volume and serves as an operational buffer to prevent potential domestic fuel shortages during the high-demand end-of-year holiday season.
​The decision comes at a crucial period as international gasoline markets experience supply constraints and upward price pressures linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
While local refining capacity, led by the 700,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery, supplied nearly 80% of Nigeria’s domestic petrol needs during the first half of 2026, the government maintains that parallel import licenses remain essential under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
​Addressing energy stakeholders in Abuja following the approval announcement, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, underscored that the import licenses are intended to complement, rather than undermine, domestic refining output.
​”Our primary mandate under the Petroleum Industry Act is to ensure absolute energy security and foster fair market competition for Nigerian consumers,” Umar stated.
“While domestic refining has transformed our energy sector and dramatically reduced import dependency from 400,000 barrels per day in 2024 to roughly 83,000 barrels per day this year, maintaining a regulated import window acts as a vital contingency mechanism. It prevents single-supplier market dominance, protects against distribution bottlenecks, and stabilizes pricing across domestic gantries during peak consumption periods like the Yuletide.”
​The NMDPRA clarified that pump prices in the deregulated downstream market will continue to reflect market variables, including foreign exchange rates, marine and inland logistics costs, and global crude feedstock valuations.
However, by securing these import commitments well before December, the government aims to ensure uninterrupted distribution across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory throughout the holidays.
