Bukola Afeni
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has announced plans to supply over 65 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily to meet and exceed Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand, marking a significant milestone in the country’s quest for energy self-sufficiency.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disclosed the development in Lagos, confirming that a structured offtake agreement has been concluded with selected marketers to guarantee nationwide distribution and eliminate supply disruptions.
“We have agreed an offtake framework to supply over 65 million litres daily for the domestic market.
“Any surplus, estimated at between 15 and 20 million litres, will be exported,”Dangote said.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the refinery’s management noted that Nigeria’s average daily petrol consumption ranges between 50 and 60 million litres.
The refinery’s projected output therefore surpasses current domestic requirements, signaling a decisive break from decades of fuel import dependence and recurrent scarcity.
The statement revealed that, the development signals what industry analysts describe as a significant structural reform in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
“For decades, Africa’s largest crude oil producer relied heavily on imported refined products, exposing the economy to foreign exchange volatility, logistics disruptions and periodic shortages.
“With local refining now exceeding national demand, the country stands to conserve billions of dollars annually in foreign exchange previously spent on petrol imports. Analysts say this would ease pressure on the naira, strengthen external reserves, and improve trade balance stability,” the statement reads.
During a recent visit to the facility, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Bashir Ojulari, described the refinery as a transformative national asset capable of redefining Nigeria’s energy security architecture and accelerating industrial growth.
He commended its operational performance, noting that the plant had exceeded expectations.
“This plant was designed for 650,000 barrels per day. None of us thought it would even touch 550,000. What we saw live today was 661,000. These are live parameters, not reports or photographs,” Ojulari stated.
