The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), unequivocally stated that Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) can import fuel as there is no law prohibiting it from doing so when necessary
The Authority, through Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, while reaffirming the quality and standards of the fuel products brought to the country so far this year, said, there is no cause for alarm by consumers over their qualities
He said: “the NMDPRA always insists that all petroleum products meet the specifications of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
According to him, the Authority does not permit the distribution of products that fall short of quality standards.
You must meet those specifications, otherwise we will not let those products be distributed,” he said.
Ogbugo Ukoha who made this clarification in a press briefing in Abuja, stated further that local refineries met 50 per cent national consumption requirement while the shortfall is imported by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
He explained that the contribution of local refineries has been less than a 60 per cent shortfall in January and February 2025.
He however specifically noted that none of the OMCs that owned refineries have imported petroleum products this year.
In his words, “So, just for clarity, what I am saying is that the contribution of local refining towards the sufficiency was less than 60 per cent in January and less than 50 percent in February 2025.
According to him, the shortfall is sourced by way of importation. Even though none of the OMCs that owned refineries have imported this year PMS.”
He announced that the NMDPRA has banned trucks carrying over 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon products from loading effective from 1st March 2025.
Similarly, a statement by the NNPC spokesman, Femi Soneye, on Tuesday, while reacting to a report on alleged importation of 200million litres, noted that while NNPC Limited has not imported PMS in 2025, ” it is important to clarify that there is no law prohibiting NNPC Limited from importing when necessary”.
He added in the statement that “As a company primarily responsible for ensuring energy security in Nigeria, if there were any PMS supply insufficiency in the future, NNPC Limited has the right and responsibility to intervene by importing to bridge the gap.”
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