About 633 million litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, and automated gas oil (AGO), also known as diesel, were imported into Nigeria in January 2025 to ensure consumers get the products to purchase.
The fuel was brought into the country this month by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and some oil marketers.
The country imported these products despite local production from the Dangote Refinery and the Port Harcourt Refinery operated by the federal government through the NNPC.
A breakdown showed that about 458 million litres of petrol entered the country and 174 million litres of diesel were imported in one month.
A report by Punch said the NNPCL brought in the highest volume totalling 158,740 metric tonnes of petrol, and going by the conversion rate of 1,341 litres to one metric tonne, it, therefore, implies that the oil firm brought in about 212.87 million litres of petrol between January 1 and 29, 2025.
The national oil firm also imported 62,866 MT of diesel into the country within the same period. The amount represents a total of 120.1m litres when converted to litres.
The situation described by oil and gas experts as baffling and shocking, is against the backdrop of the widely publicised operational commencement of the 210,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt refinery and the 125,000 barrels per day Warri refinery by the NNPCL, making a combined capacity of 335,000 barrels per day.
The document stated that the first consignment, which arrived on Friday, January 10, carried 15,000 metric tonnes of petrol, equivalent to 20.12 million litres, and docked at the Calabar port.
Another vessel received by the NNPCL on January 16, 2025, berthed at the Calabar port with a load of 15,000 metric tonnes.
At the Lagos ports, vessels conveying products were received on January 13, 22 and 27 carrying a total of 128,740 metric tonnes, amounting to 172.64m litres.
For diesel, the national oil firm was the recipient of three vessels that berthed at the Lagos ports on January 9 and 16, carrying a total of 62,866 metric tonnes representing 74.81m litres
Similarly, major marketers such as Bovas, A.A. Rano, Matrix, Raj, and AYM Shafa have continued their importation activities, collectively bringing in a total of 246.02 million litres of petrol and 99.96m of diesel.
Other marketers include Chipet Oil, MenJ, WosbasB, Shorelink, Prudent, and Prado.
These marketers landed their products at the Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri ports for onward distribution and delivery to its filling stations.
Matrix was the highest volume importer and brought in 126.89m litres of fuel.
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, stated that Port Harcourt is still operating at a skeletal level despite commencing operations two months ago.