The Federal Government says 67,657,559 barrels of crude oil were supplied to Nigerian refineries between January and August 2025.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed the figure, noting that deliveries went to both modular and state-owned refineries such as Waltersmith, Aradel Energy, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) facilities.
Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communications at NUPRC, explained that the supplies were made under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) policy, which requires producers to reserve a portion of crude for local processors before export.
Despite this allocation, refiners received far less than they requested. Industry data shows local plants demanded 123.5 million barrels for the first half of 2025, but only 67.6 million barrels were delivered over eight months—about 45% less than required.
Earlier projections suggested that Nigerian refineries, including Port Harcourt, Warri, and Dangote, would need around 770,500 barrels per day, or 23.8 million barrels monthly, to operate at capacity. Yet most crude still goes abroad. In the first quarter of 2025, 82% of Nigeria’s production was exported.
Refinery owners say they struggle to compete with international buyers who pay in dollars. The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has argued that the current “willing buyer, willing seller” pricing model favours foreign traders over local refiners, undermining the government’s drive for energy self-sufficiency.
“Foreign buyers have access to hard currency, while our members face exchange rate volatility. That makes it harder for us to access crude, despite legal provisions that guarantee it,” CORAN’s spokesperson, Eche Idoko, said.
Analysts warn that without stronger enforcement of DCSO rules, transparent pricing, and incentives for domestic supply, Nigeria risks stalling its refining expansion and continuing to rely heavily on imported fuel.
The NUPRC insists its allocations show progress but acknowledges that compliance and enforcement remain weak. Industry players stress that only consistent supply will make the billions invested in local refining sustainable.
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