Domestic refining share
Figures below refer to 30 June 2026 unless stated otherwise.
The claim
Nigeria shifted from importing most of its petrol to refining most of it domestically, driven overwhelmingly by the Dangote refinery rather than the state refineries.
Figures
Domestic refining supplied 78.6% of national petrol in H1 2026, up from 38.9% in 2025. Q1 2026: 3.18bn litres refined domestically against 965m litres imported. Dangote nameplate capacity 650,000 bpd, operating above capacity.
The counter-argument
This is a private-sector achievement the government can claim only partial credit for, and the relationship has turned adversarial. In Suit FHC/L/CS/857/2026 NNPC argued in the Federal High Court that Dangote's petrol is 'sold at significantly high and fluctuating market prices' and that imports must continue to prevent a monopoly. Dangote argued the NMDPRA import licences breached an April 29 status-quo order and the Petroleum Industry Act. Import licences went to NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix Energy, Shafa Energy, Pinnacle Oil and Gas and Bono Energy.
Sources
- Tribune — domestic petrol supply 78.6% in H1 2026tribuneonlineng.com
- Billionaires Africa — NNPC v Dangote in courtbillionaires.africa