The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is considering restricting the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to major oil marketers that continue to import petrol into Nigeria.
The proposed move, which could take effect as early as this week subject to further consultations, is linked to concerns over product quality, market transparency and the handling of petroleum products sold under the Dangote brand.
Sources familiar with the refinery’s position said one of the major concerns is the alleged blending of imported petrol with products purchased from the Dangote refinery before distribution to consumers.
According to the sources, such practices could make it difficult to determine whether petroleum products in the market were supplied directly by the refinery or had subsequently been mixed or handled by third parties.
The refinery is also reportedly concerned about the quality-control systems used to verify imported petroleum products entering the Nigerian market.
It has raised questions about the availability of standard laboratory facilities and independent testing capacity to properly confirm the specifications of imported petrol.
The development comes as Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector undergoes a major shift from dependence on imported refined products towards increased domestic refining.
The Dangote refinery, with a stated capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, has become a major supplier of refined petroleum products to the Nigerian market and international destinations.
The refinery’s emergence has also contributed to a significant increase in Nigeria’s petroleum product exports.
Data from the United States Energy Information Administration showed that Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product shipments averaged 561,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an annual average of 79,000 barrels per day in 2023.
The refinery has also expanded its presence in the international aviation fuel market, with its jet fuel reportedly gaining acceptance in markets in Europe and the United States.
The proposed restriction on sales to marketers who import petrol comes amid renewed concerns over rising fuel imports into Nigeria.
Fuel imports reportedly accounted for 43.3 per cent of supply in July, a development that has triggered concerns from domestic refiners about the impact of imported products on the local market.
Dangote Refinery has previously criticised the continued approval of import licences, arguing that increased imports could undermine investments in domestic refining capacity.
The proposed measure, if implemented, could further reshape competition among domestic refiners, fuel importers and marketers and may have implications for petrol supply and pricing across the country.
