Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption drops to 50m litres as FG bans 60,000-litre tankers

The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption has declined to 50 million litres, with local refineries now supplying half of the nation’s fuel demand while the remaining is sourced through imports.

Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, made this known in Abuja after a stakeholders’ meeting.

Ukoha explained that before the current administration took office, daily petrol supply was averaging about 66 million litres per day. However, after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, consumption sharply declined. Since then, the daily average has remained around 50 million litres. He further clarified that none of the companies involved in local refining were engaged in the importation of fuel.

To ensure smooth fuel supply, the government has maintained importation to cover the shortfall, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Ukoha emphasized that despite the drop in consumption, the authorities are ensuring there is no return to fuel scarcity.

Meanwhile, the government has also placed a ban on 60,000-litre capacity tankers from transporting petroleum products across the country starting from March 1, 2025. This decision, made by the NMDPRA despite opposition from truck owners, aims to reduce tanker-related accidents and prevent further damage to Nigerian roads.

The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) had earlier warned that the ban could result in a loss of over N300 billion, as more than 2,000 units of 60,000-litre trucks currently operate in fuel transportation. However, Ukoha justified the move by stating that these high-capacity tankers were responsible for several fire incidents and had significantly contributed to road deterioration.

During the meeting, which involved representatives from the DSS, Federal Fire Service, Road Safety, NUPENG, IPMAN, and other key stakeholders, it was agreed that from March 1, 2025, no truck carrying more than 60,000 litres of fuel would be allowed to load at any depot. Additionally, by the fourth quarter of 2025, trucks exceeding 45,000 litres will also be barred from transporting petroleum products.