Nigeria’s Crude Oil Imports Rise 26.5% in H1 2025 Amid Dangote Refinery’s Demand

On Friday, September 5, 2025, Nigeria recorded a 26.5% increase in crude oil imports, reaching 5,665,602 metric tons in the first half of 2025 (H1’25), up from 4,478,413 metric tons in H1’24, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as reported by Financial Vanguard (Web:0). The surge is attributed to the Dangote Refinery’s 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity, which imported crude from the U.S., Brazil, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea since starting operations on May 22, 2023 (Web:0, Web:1). A quarterly analysis showed Q1’25 imports fell 30% to 2,400,553 metric tons from 3,037,209 in Q1’24, but Q2’25 imports soared 126% to 3,265,099 metric tons from 1,441,204 in Q2’24 (Web:0).

The government planned 2.06 million bpd production in H1’25, with 770,500 bpd for domestic refineries, but output averaged 1.697 million bpd in July, per the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) (Web:0). NUPRC reported 67,657,559 barrels delivered to local refiners from January to August 2025 (Web:0). CPPE CEO Dr. Muda Yusuf noted that forward contracts and joint ventures with International Oil Companies limit domestic supply, making imports necessary (Web:0). Maritime consultant Oluwabunmi Ogunjimi highlighted that Dangote’s imports boost shipping revenue through pilotage dues and taxes, with Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) enhancing NPA earnings (Web:0). MEMAN CEO Clement Isong stated that Nigeria’s constrained supply necessitates imports, common even among major producers (Web:0).

PofAN President Daniel Okafor and NOGSN President Mazi Colman Obasi emphasized that long-term projects like Project 1 Million Barrels Per Day (MMBOPD) will boost output, but immediate gains are limited (Web:0). NUPRC’s Gbenga Komolafe affirmed that the initiative, leveraging operator capacity, aims for 2.5 million bpd short-term (Web:0). X posts from @EnergyWatchNG (September 5, 2025) noted the refinery’s $1.2 billion import impact, while @Naija_Activist highlighted 62% public concern over energy self-sufficiency (Afrobarometer, 2025) (Post:3). The trend signals a transitional phase toward refining independence (Web:1).