The unexpected return of petrol importation in Nigeria.

The unexpected return of petrol importation in Nigeria.

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Just when we all thought the days of waiting for ships to arrive from abroad were finally behind us, the news has hit the streets that petrol importation is making a comeback.

For many Nigerians who were counting on our local refineries to end the fuel wahala once and for all, this new update from the marketers is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. As a professional editor who has followed the “ups and downs” of our oil sector for years, I find this development very interesting.

We were promised that with the coming of massive local refining capacity, our “japa” from foreign fuel would be permanent. But as they say, reality is a different kind of teacher. The independent marketers have now revealed that they are resuming the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to close the supply gaps that our local refineries are currently struggling to fill.

It is a move that shows that in the world of energy, you cannot afford to have a single “plan A” when the demand of over 200 million people is on the line.

Why local refineries are struggling to meet our daily fuel ginger.

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The koko of the matter is that Nigeria’s thirst for petrol is massive, and right now, our local production cannot catch up with the speed at which we consume fuel.

While the Dangote Refinery and others have started production, there have been some “technical hitches” and supply constraints that have made it difficult for them to meet 100 percent of the national demand. Marketers under the umbrella of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) have pointed out that the supply coming from local plants is not yet steady enough to prevent scarcity.

We are talking about a country where every small business and every “I-better-pass-my-neighbor” generator needs fuel to survive. When the local supply drops even a little, the queues at the filling stations start to grow “sharp sharp,” and that is what the government and the marketers are trying to avoid at all costs.

The heavy burden on marketers and the search for steady supply.

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For the marketers, the decision to start importing again is not just about business; it is about survival. They have a responsibility to keep their stations wet, and if local refineries cannot give them the volume they need when they need it, they have to look elsewhere.

The cost of bringing in this fuel is still a major concern because of the exchange rate palava that has been shaking the Naira. However, the marketers are arguing that having expensive fuel is better than having no fuel at all.

They are working closely with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to ensure that the transition back to a “mix” of local and imported fuel does not cause too much shock in the market.

It is a delicate balancing act that requires a lot of “liver” and strategic planning to ensure that the country does not go back to the dark days of total fuel blackouts.

What the future holds for petrol prices and availability in the country

As we move forward in 2026, the question on every Nigerian’s mind is whether the price of petrol will go up again. Let us tell ourselves the truth: importation usually comes with extra costs like shipping and port charges which local production is supposed to eliminate.

However, if the importation helps to keep the supply steady, it might prevent the “black market” from taking over and hiking prices to crazy levels.

The long-term goal remains for Nigeria to be self sufficient, but for now, this “hybrid” approach of local refining plus importation is our current reality. We hope that our local refineries will find their “ginger” soon and scale up their production so that we can finally retire the import documents for good.

Until then, we must stay alert and hope that the synergy between the government, the refineries, and the marketers works out for the benefit of the common man.