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| Dangote Refinery |
According to the Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian petroleum product marketers and retailers imported 154.22 million liters of premium motor spirit between March 17 and March 23, 2025.
This indicates that during the reviewed period, these businesses sought out alternative sources for petroleum products outside of Dangote Refinery.
According to a document released by the NPA on Thursday, ships transporting 115,000 metric tonnes, or 154.22 million liters of PMS, will import goods via the ports of Tincan in Lagos, Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos, and Calabar in Cross River State.
In the same time frame, the Dangote Refinery imported 654,766 metric tonnes of crude oil, according to the paper.
Consequently, on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 4:03 pm, the first shipment of 20,000 metric tons of PMS assigned to the West African Port Services berthed at the Dangote terminal.
Two ships carrying 20,000 metric tons each docked at the seaports of Tincan and Calabar on the same day. Then, on Thursday, March 20, at 3:18 p.m., a 20,000 metric-ton Watson vessel arrived. A Kach maritime agent managed it when it was berthed at the Ecomarine terminal.
Additionally, on Friday, March 21 at midnight, Binta Saleh's ship was supposed to dock at the Tincan port in Lagos with 5,000 metric tons of imported gasoline.
Another ship carrying 15,000 metric tons of petroleum is scheduled to dock at the Calabar port on Saturday, March 22 at 11:06 a.m. Peak Shipping was designated as its agent.
On Sunday at 5:10 p.m., a ship carrying 15,000 metric tons of petroleum will dock at the same port and dock at the Eco Marine terminal. Accordingly, 115,000 metric tonnes should be brought in by the seven ships.
In summary, the gasoline retailers and marketers are bringing in about 154.22 million liters of gasoline during the period under consideration, based on the conversion rate of 1,341 liters to one metric tonne.
The development coincides with Dangote Refinery's recent decision to halt sales of petroleum goods in Naira.
The stalemate in the Naira-for-crude sale agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is not unrelated to the refinery's decision to stop selling in Naira, which produces 650,000 barrels per day.
The Nigerian Petroleum Retailers Outlets Owners Association had previously told DAILY POST that its members would not be reluctant to look for alternatives at NNPCL and through the importation of gasoline.
As of March 12, 2025, the ex-depot pricing of Dangote Refinery was between N815 and N825 per litre, but the landing cost of imported PMS had decreased to between N774 and N797 per liter.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has justified PMS imports by claiming that the country's three functioning refineries account for less than half of daily gasoline use, with imported goods making up the difference.