Dangote vs NMDPRA: Refinery Alleges Import Sabotage as Petrol War Rocks Nigeria
The Dangote Refinery petrol import crisis has ignited intense controversy across Nigeria’s energy sector, following explosive claims that the country’s largest private refinery is being deliberately undermined by its own regulator. In early January 2026, the management of the 650000 barrels per day Lekki based facility accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, of flooding the local market with excessive imported petrol in a move it described as calculated sabotage of domestic refining efforts.
According to the refinery, the regulator continued to issue petrol import licenses far above Nigeria’s actual consumption needs, even as the Dangote Refinery maintained sufficient capacity to meet nationwide demand. The company alleged that this practice was designed to weaken local production and preserve the influence of entrenched fuel import interests that have long dominated the downstream petroleum sector. In its statement, the refinery warned that such actions directly threaten Nigeria’s push for energy self sufficiency and undermine billions of dollars invested in local industrial capacity.
At the center of the dispute is the volume of Premium Motor Spirit entering the country despite a growing surplus at the Dangote facility. The refinery said it was stunned to discover that millions of liters of imported fuel were approved at a time when locally refined petrol was readily available. This oversupply, management explained, created serious distribution and storage challenges, forcing the plant to scale back operations while absorbing heavy logistical costs. The company further alleged that previous leadership within the NMDPRA enabled this imbalance to keep Nigeria dependent on foreign fuel sources, effectively weakening confidence in local refining.
Beyond quantity, the refinery also raised concerns about quality. It alleged that some imported petrol approved by the regulator failed to meet modern environmental and engine safety standards. By allowing such products to compete with locally refined fuel produced to higher specifications, the refinery argued that the regulator was not only hurting the economy but also exposing Nigerian motorists to long term mechanical risks.
The accusations have intensified scrutiny of the relationship between Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial project and the regulatory authority overseeing the downstream sector. Questions are now being raised about transparency, import quota justification, and whether regulatory decisions truly reflect national economic priorities.
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As the federal government moves to examine the claims, the dispute has triggered a wider national conversation on deregulation, fuel imports, and the protection of local industries. The Dangote Group insists that Nigeria cannot break free from fuel shortages and foreign exchange pressure unless local refineries are given priority in domestic supply. While the NMDPRA has previously defended imports as necessary for competition and supply security, the scale and detail of these allegations suggest deeper structural problems. How this conflict is resolved may determine not only the future of fuel pricing but also whether Nigeria can finally achieve lasting energy independence.
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