FG issues fresh petrol import permits

Nigeria's Federal Government has authorized fresh imports of petrol and diesel for the third quarter of 2026, aiming to avert potential domestic supply shortages. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) issued these permits to major downstream operators, according to a report by Argus Media.

The approvals come amid declining fuel stock levels and concerns about reduced gasoline production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This move underscores Nigeria's ongoing effort to balance increasing local refining capacity with the critical need to guarantee sufficient petroleum product supplies nationwide.

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These are some of the same ones that previously received the PMS permits.

Domestic companies, including AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono Energy, Nipco, Matrix Energy, and Pinnacle Oil, received permits to import Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) between July and September. Most of these companies, excluding Nipco, also secured approvals for Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) imports. These fresh authorizations follow an earlier batch of petrol import permits issued in May, which covered approximately 720,000 metric tonnes.

Sources indicate that many recipients of the latest permits were also granted approvals in previous rounds. Specific allocations reported include AA Rano and Matrix Energy each receiving permits for 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol, AYM Shafa for 120,000 metric tonnes, and Pinnacle Oil for 150,000 metric tonnes. For diesel, AYM Shafa secured a permit for 60,000 metric tonnes, and Pinnacle for 45,000 metric tonnes. The issuance of these permits was reportedly delayed from an initial target date of June 15.

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The permits were issued to head off projected shortfalls in supply.