According to the report, the approvals were granted in response to concerns over declining fuel stock levels and reduced gasoline production from the Dangote Refinery
KaNo —
Fuel importers in Nigeria have confirmed receiving fresh licences from the Federal Government to import petroleum products for the third quarter of 2026, a move aimed at sustaining fuel availability and preventing supply disruptions across the country.
Industry operators disclosed on Wednesday that approved downstream companies had begun receiving their import permits from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
A dealer familiar with the development confirmed the issuance of the licences in an interview with Punch on Wednesday, noting that companies were already taking steps to commence import arrangements.
“Yes, licences have been issued. We just got the licences today,” the dealer said, although he declined to provide details regarding the volume allocated to his firm under the approval.
The confirmation comes shortly after global energy intelligence firm Argus Media reported that the Federal Government had approved fresh imports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, for the July to September 2026 period.
According to the report, the approvals were granted in response to concerns over declining fuel stock levels and reduced gasoline production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, which has emerged as a key supplier of refined petroleum products in Nigeria.
The development underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to maintain a delicate balance between supporting local refining capacity and ensuring sufficient fuel supply through imports, particularly during periods of production fluctuation.
Further findings indicated that the same companies—AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Matrix Energy, Pinnacle Oil, and others—were among those cleared to import petrol during the third quarter.
In addition, most of the firms, with the exception of NIPCO, were also granted licences to import diesel.
Industry sources noted that several of the companies receiving the new licences were also beneficiaries of previous allocations, suggesting a continuity in the government’s strategy of working with established players in the downstream sector.
Quoting a regulatory source, Argus Media reported that “these are some of the same ones that previously received the PMS permits,” indicating a level of consistency in the selection of importers.
Sources familiar with the allocations disclosed that AA Rano and Matrix Energy each received approval to import about 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol, while AYM Shafa was allocated 120,000 metric tonnes.
Pinnacle Oil reportedly secured a permit covering 150,000 metric tonnes, although official confirmation of these figures from regulators was not immediately available.
The issuance of fresh licences highlights the persistent reliance on imports to meet domestic fuel demand, despite ongoing efforts to boost local refining capacity through projects such as the Dangote refinery.
Dangote Refinery Denies Claim Marketers Re-Import Fuel Via Togo
The management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has dismissed allegations that Nigerian fuel marketers were re-importing its products via the Lomé trading hub in Togo, describing the claims as “unfounded and misleading.”
The allegations were reportedly linked to comments made by an S&P Global Energy official, Matthew Tracey-Cook, during a webinar organised by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria.
Tracey-Cook had suggested that a significant proportion of fuel imported into Nigeria in recent months originated from Dangote refinery exports routed through offshore trading in Lomé.
According to him, between March and May, more than 70 to 80 per cent of imported fuel volumes into Nigeria were linked to Dangote refinery products that had been exported and subsequently re-imported.
While he did not accuse the refinery of directly facilitating the practice, his remarks raised questions about potential inefficiencies and arbitrage opportunities within the fuel supply chain.
Reacting to the claims, the refinery’s management firmly rejected the assertion, stating that it lacked both economic and operational logic.
“Management states unequivocally that the allegation is not supported by verifiable trade data, commercial logic, or the operational realities of the refinery,” the company said in a statement.
The refinery emphasised that its core mandate is to strengthen domestic fuel supply and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, adding that any practice enabling re-importation would contradict its strategic objectives.
It further clarified that all its sales contracts and tender agreements explicitly prohibit the resale or re-importation of its products into Nigeria, thereby preventing any form of arbitrage.
Addressing the economic feasibility of the alleged practice, the company noted that logistics costs associated with transporting products from Nigeria to Lomé and back would range between $82 and $90 per metric tonne, making such transactions commercially unviable.
“Such additional costs would significantly erode margins and render the transaction economically impractical,” the statement noted.
In addition, the company highlighted its stringent product traceability measures, which include detailed documentation of lifting points, nominated vessels, counterparties, and declared destinations.
These systems, it said, ensure transparency and accountability across its supply chain.
The management reiterated that any suggestion that it facilitates or tolerates re-importation is inconsistent with its compliance standards and contractual safeguards.
It also warned that such practices, if they were to occur, would undermine Nigeria’s broader economic interests by increasing reliance on imports, exerting pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and weakening domestic refining capacity.
“Encouraging or enabling re-importation would contradict our commitment to national industrial growth and energy security,” the company stated.
The ongoing debate highlights the complexities of Nigeria’s evolving downstream petroleum sector, where policy reforms, market dynamics, and infrastructure developments continue to shape supply patterns.
The issuance of fresh import licences signals the government’s determination to avoid fuel shortages and maintain stability in the energy market, even as it continues to promote domestic refining as a long-term solution.
