By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
In a historic development for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals is set to supply between 60 and 65 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily, meeting domestic demand while creating a surplus of up to 20 million litres for export. The announcement positions the country on a path toward sustained fuel self-sufficiency.
Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, revealed the plan in Lagos, confirming that structured offtake agreements have been concluded with selected marketers to ensure nationwide distribution and prevent supply disruptions.
“We have agreed on an offtake framework to supply up to 65 million litres daily for the domestic market,” Dangote said. “Any surplus, estimated at between 15 and 20 million litres, will be exported.”
Nigeria currently consumes between 50 and 60 million litres of petrol daily, meaning the refinery’s output exceeds national requirements—a major shift away from decades of fuel import dependence and recurring shortages.
Under a revised distribution framework approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the refinery will supply fuel through major marketing companies, including MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, NNPC Limited Retail, 11 plc (Mobil Producing Nigeria), TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Rainoil Limited, Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited, Ardova Plc, Bovas & Company Limited, AA Rano Nigeria Limited, AYM Shafa Limited, Conoil, and Masters Energy. The structured approach is aimed at eliminating bottlenecks and curbing speculative practices that have historically caused supply disruptions.
Industry analysts describe this move as a significant structural reform for Nigeria’s fuel supply chain. For decades, Africa’s largest crude oil producer relied heavily on imported refined products, exposing the economy to foreign exchange volatility, logistics challenges, and periodic shortages. With local refining now exceeding national demand, Nigeria stands to save billions of dollars annually in foreign exchange previously spent on petrol imports—strengthening the naira, boosting reserves, and improving trade balance stability.
Engr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, described the refinery as a transformative national asset during a recent visit. He noted its potential to redefine Nigeria’s energy security framework and accelerate industrial growth, calling it a source of national pride and a demonstration of the country’s ability to overcome legacy industrial constraints through world-class technology.
Commending the plant’s performance, Ojulari said, “This plant was designed for 650,000 barrels per day. None of us thought it would even reach 550,000. What we saw live today was 661,000. These are live parameters, not reports or photographs.”
With its output exceeding domestic demand, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has cemented its role in reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape and reducing the nation’s reliance on imported fuel.
