Dangote Refinery Boosts Petrol Supply by 65%

Nigeria’s largest refinery recorded a sharp rise in petrol supply in December, with daily output climbing by about 65 percent to more than 32 million litres. Data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows production jumped from roughly 19.4 million litres per day the previous month.

The surge followed changes in leadership at the regulatory agency, including the exit of its former chief executive, Farouk Ahmed. Aliko Dangote later confirmed that refinery loadings have since expanded further, averaging about 50 million litres daily after the federal government intervened at the agency.

Tensions had earlier emerged between Dangote and Ahmed over fuel import permits, with Dangote arguing that excessive licenses undermined local refining. The disagreement escalated after allegations of corruption were raised and reported to anti-graft bodies, preceding Ahmed’s resignation in mid-December.

The higher refinery output boosted national fuel availability, with petrol stock cover improving significantly. Official figures show sufficiency levels rose to over 29 days in December, compared to just under 17 days in November.