CPPE: 234% Surge in Fuel Import Will Discourage Downstream Investment
Says unexplained reversals in import policy increase uncertainty Dangote Refinery to block petrol importers over quality concerns Dike Onwuamaeze and Peter Uzoho The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has expressed concern over a 234% surge in petrol importation in Nigeria over a three-month period, from May 2026 to July 2026. According to data from the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), average petrol imports increased from 5.9 million litres per day in May to 19.7 million litres per day in July, a 206.8% increase.
CPPE warns that such import policy reversals create uncertainty and discourage investment in the downstream sector. The organization argues that imports should only be used to close genuine supply gaps, not to displace domestic refineries or expand market competition. CPPE's Chief Executive, Dr. Muda Yusuf, emphasizes that a rules-based regime should be established where domestic production receives fair opportunities, imports only fill verified gaps, consumers remain protected, and competition is preserved.
Yusuf urges the NMDPRA to publish product-specific supply gap determinations, give domestic refiners fair opportunities to meet demand, and restrict import permits to the residual gap for a defined validity period. He stresses that the credibility of Nigeria's industrialization agenda will be judged by whether regulators align their decisions with these national objectives.
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