FG to Resume Petrol, Diesel Import Permits Mid-February
FG to Resume Petrol, Diesel Import Permits Mid-February
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
The Federal Government may resume issuing petrol and diesel import permits by mid-February 2026 to prevent supply shortages, authorities have said.Â
The NMDPRA had previously halted these licenses to prioritize local production, but a strategic shift is now expected to ensure national energy security.
Reports indicate that the NMDPRA will likely approve new licenses between late February and early March. These approvals follow a period where imports were strictly limited to covering domestic refinery shortfalls, signaling a move toward stabilizing the fuel market for the year.
The delay in issuing 2026 permits was largely due to leadership transitions within the regulatory body following the exit of former Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed.
This change slowed internal decision-making, creating a backlog that the agency is now working to resolve to normalize the licensing process.
Typically, import permits are issued quarterly and valid for three months. Since the first quarter is already underway, industry experts are curious whether the upcoming mid-quarter permits will be shortened or extended to align with the standard regulatory cycle.
Domestic production has faced challenges, with crude receipts at the Dangote Refinery hitting a 16-month low of 250,000 barrels per day in January.
This decline, coupled with maintenance on key processing units, has heightened the need for imports to bridge potential supply gaps.
Economic pressures remain a major concern as the government balances local refining with affordability. Underscoring this tension, the report noted, “Dangote: Petrol price could hit N1,000/litre, put additional N1.75tn burden on Nigerians.”
