Petrol, diesel vessels arrive Nigeria amid worth surge

•  Why imported petrol nonetheless enters Nigeria — NMDPR

As Nigerians deal with rising petrol costs, vessels carrying 129,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gasoline Oil (diesel) are anticipated to dock at Lagos Ports between March 14 and 17, 2026, The PidomNigeria stories.

This got here as officers of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority defined why some importers had been nonetheless importing PMS regardless of the company’s place that no petrol import licence had been issued this 12 months.

In accordance with the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Transport Place Every day obtained on Monday, a vessel, Mosunmola, carrying 20,000MT of PMS, arrived at Lagos Ports through the Bulk Oil Plant on Sunday, March 14, 2026. One other vessel, Kobe, with 22,000MT of AGO, docked at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Section 2, Tin Can Island Port, on the identical day.

On Tuesday, March 17, Bora is scheduled to reach at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal 3B with 27,000MT of PMS, whereas Ashabi will convey 30,000MT of AGO to the identical terminal.

Moreover, Oluwajuwonlo offloaded 15,000MT of PMS at Calabar Ports by way of Ecomarine Nigeria Restricted on Sunday, March 15. Mosunmola may also ship 15,000MT of PMS to Calabar Ports through a North West Petroleum Gasoline Co Restricted terminal on March 17.

The vessel arrivals coincide with ongoing gas worth hikes nationwide. Nigerians presently face surging petrol prices after Dangote Petroleum Refinery raised its gantry worth for PMS to N1,175 per litre, pushing retail costs above N1,200 per litre. The rise has affected transport fares and pushed up the price of items and companies nationwide.

Financial analysts, labour unions, and personal sector leaders have referred to as on the Federal Authorities to offer aid measures, citing rising crude oil costs pushed by escalating tensions between america and Iran. Some stakeholders urged subsidising petrol to mitigate the impression on residents and companies, warning that continued worth will increase may exacerbate inflation.

Petrol costs have reached between N1,200 and N1,300 per litre in a number of areas, with projections suggesting prices may exceed N1,500 or method N2,000 per litre if the Center East disaster persists.

Entrepreneurs converse

The Impartial Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria confirmed that impartial entrepreneurs are ready to raise imported merchandise to make sure availability and competitors.

IPMAN spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike stated, “We, the impartial entrepreneurs, are all the time on the receiving aspect. Wherever the product is coming from, and it’s within the tanks of depot homeowners or NNPC, we’ll purchase it. Crucial factor is availability.

“If NMDPRA made a press release categorically that there isn’t a import licence, I don’t know the place this one is coming from. However we’re able to obtain the merchandise and promote. Perhaps that may also breed competitors, and this worth volatility could have sustainability. So, I believe additionally it is a welcome growth.”

Ukadike added that the vessels is perhaps working below licences issued way back and that delays at sea—significantly across the Strait of Hormuz—could clarify their late arrival.

“It may additionally be an previous importation licence issued since final 12 months. It’s acceptable. The imported merchandise wouldn’t have any impression on costs until the worth of crude oil declines. The value relies on the quantity and value of the product as a result of there may be nothing like a discount in costs when Brent continues to be promoting for over $100,” he stated.

NMDPRA explains imports

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has clarified that no import licences had been issued within the first quarter of 2026, asserting that shortfalls in February had been coated by leftover shares from January and present refinery output.

Whereas IPMAN and different stakeholders supported the halt on gas import licences, main sellers and importers argued that imports had been nonetheless vital to satisfy nationwide demand. February figures present Dangote refinery produced a mean of 36 million litres per day, whereas nationwide consumption was about 56 million litres per day, leaving an obvious hole.

A supply inside NMDPRA, talking on situation of anonymity because of the lack of authorisation to talk on the matter, defined that the refinery’s unsold shares had been rolled over because of weather-related export delays in Europe on the finish of 2025, closing the availability hole in February.

“The shortfall rolled over from earlier shares. This stuff are easy. Our truth sheets are printed month-to-month. There have been rollover shares. Dangote didn’t export for a very long time in the direction of the tip of final 12 months. So, it was these rolled-over shares that it provided. Each entrepreneurs and Dangote are solely jostling for market shares. Has there been a scarcity? No!” the supply stated.

The regulator additionally refuted on-line claims that new licences had been issued, noting that licences are granted quarterly. “Those who had been issued in the direction of the tip of final 12 months had been nonetheless getting used. A licence for importation will not be like taking cash to the grocery store. It takes time for vessels to reach. We’ve got not issued any import licence this 12 months,” the official stated.

Nigeria has traditionally relied on imported refined petroleum merchandise because of restricted home refining capability. Nonetheless, the operational Dangote refinery, producing 650,000 barrels per day, has shifted the downstream dynamics. NMDPRA confirmed that home refineries provided 36.5 million litres per day in February 2026, with imports contributing simply three million litres, representing roughly 92 per cent of the nationwide each day provide.

Chief Govt of NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, warned towards returning to heavy import dependence. “We’ve got not issued a single licence for petrol importation this 12 months. Some pursuits nonetheless push for large-scale importation regardless of our progress in home refining,” he stated throughout a gathering with a PidomNigeria delegation on the company’s Abuja headquarters.

The latest vessel arrivals, whereas guaranteeing availability, largely replicate previous import licences and logistical delays, fairly than new authorisations from NMDPRA.