Between October 18 and October 20, four vessels transporting imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, arrived at Nigerian seaports. This influx, totaling approximately 123.4 million litres, aims to bolster fuel supply across the nation, according to documents from the Nigerian Port Authority.
The imports come in response to reports indicating that domestic production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, based in Lekki, is currently falling short of meeting national demand. The refinery is producing around 10 million litres of petrol daily, well below its initial promise of 25 million litres.
In September, oil dealers imported about 141 million litres of PMS following a rise in petrol prices associated with the refinery’s output and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) releases. The full deregulation of the downstream oil sector has facilitated these imports, allowing marketers to supplement domestic supply.
The four vessels docked at Apapa port in Lagos and Calabar port in Cross River State. The first vessel, carrying 35,000 metric tonnes of PMS, arrived at the ASPM jetty on October 18, followed by additional shipments throughout the day, totaling 92,000 metric tonnes.
The conversion rate of 1,341 litres per metric tonne means these vessels delivered around 123.4 million litres of petrol to the market.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority emphasized that marketers with approved import licenses are permitted to bring in PMS, but all products must undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet safety and quality standards before being distributed.
The agency’s spokesperson George Ene-Ita, reiterated the importance of compliance with testing protocols at various stages, from the products’ origins to their arrival in Nigeria, ensuring that only specifications-compliant fuel reaches the market.
