No fewer than eight vessels carrying about 164,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products are expected at Nigerian ports as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority issues licences for fuel importation.

Findings from the Daily Shipping Position obtained on Sunday showed that the incoming cargoes comprise 82,000 metric tonnes of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel, and 81,882 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, also called petrol.

The vessels are expected to discharge at ports in Lagos, Delta, and Cross River states. The document indicated that four vessels carrying diesel are expected at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal in Lagos.

The vessel HUDSON arrived at KLT Phase 2 on May 8 with 25,000 metric tonnes of diesel, while ALINDA berthed at KLT Phase 3A on the same day carrying 10,000 metric tonnes of diesel.

Another tanker, PINARELLO, arrived at KLT Phase 2 on May 9 with 20,000 metric tonnes of diesel. Also, the vessel LESTE was expected at KLT Phase 3A on May 10 with an additional 27,000 metric tonnes of diesel.

For petrol imports, the shipping data showed that UM BALWA was expected at KLT Phase 3A on May 10 with 32,000 metric tonnes of PMS. At Koko Port in Warri, Delta State, AFRICAN MARVEL was scheduled to arrive on May 10 carrying 20,000 metric tonnes of petrol.

Similarly, KINGIS was expected at the AYM Shafa terminal on the same day with 15,000 metric tonnes of PMS. In Calabar, Cross River State, SL AREMU was billed to berth on May 9 with 14,882 metric tonnes of petrol for the importer, North West.

The document further showed that discharge operations had commenced for some vessels that arrived earlier in the week, while others were expected to begin discharge immediately after berthing.

Industry operators said the development could improve product availability and support distribution across depots nationwide. However, some argued that fuel importation should be paused as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery makes efforts to meet the country’s fuel needs.

Most of the cargoes are expected at Lagos terminals, which remain the country’s busiest hubs for imported petroleum products. The fresh imports indicate that Nigeria continues to rely on imported refined petroleum products, possibly to complement supply from the Dangote Refinery and other domestic refining facilities.

The PUNCH reports that the NMDPRA recently issued licences to six marketers for the importation of 720,000 metric tonnes of petrol. The marketers are NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix, Shafa, Pinnacle, and Bono. The development came amid claims by the NMDPRA that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now supplies over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption.

An official of the NMDPRA, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, confirmed to our correspondent that the import licences were issued.

Findings showed that NIPCO is expected to import 120,000 metric tonnes; AA Rano, 150,000MT; Matrix, 150,000MT; Shafa, 120,000MT; Pinnacle, 120,000MT; and Bono, 60,000MT, bringing the total to 720,000MT.

The latest approvals come despite earlier claims by the NMDPRA that there was no need for petrol importation because the country now has sufficient local refining capacity following the commencement of operations at the Dangote refinery.

The agency had stated that it did not issue a single import licence in the first quarter of 2026 because the Dangote refinery had the capacity to meet Nigeria’s petrol demand.

However, a top official of the NMDPRA on Thursday clarified that the regulator never banned fuel importation, insisting that energy security remains the agency’s priority. The official stated that a combination of imported and locally refined petrol would ensure supply stability across the country.

“There was never an embargo on importation. The position of the authority had always been clear. Energy security for the nation is paramount. The target has always been to do everything to ensure that there are no supply gaps in the system. So, the dual input of domestic refining and other sources would combine to give us the required supply stability,” the official said.

Our correspondent recalls that in March, the immediate past chief executive of the NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, stated that the agency was no longer importing petrol. Mohammed warned against attempts to push Nigeria back into an era of heavy petrol importation, saying the country must sustain the gains made in domestic refining.

However, President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disagreed with the former NMDPRA chief executive, insisting that licences were still being granted to fuel importers.

Impeccable sources at the refinery had earlier informed our correspondent that the Dangote Group was considering exporting its refined products because the NMDPRA continued to issue petrol import licences.

Recall that the pioneer NMDPRA chief executive, Farouk Ahmed, resigned his appointment after a face-off with Aliko Dangote over fuel importation. Dangote accused Ahmed of issuing reckless licences when the refinery’s tanks were full. He accused the former regulator of spending over $5m to send his children to school abroad.

Dangote had, in December 2025, petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, alleging that Ahmed spent about $7m on the secondary education of his children in Switzerland.

At a press conference, Dangote accused Ahmed of sabotage for issuing import licences. There are speculations that his successor, Mohammed, might have been removed for the same reason.