The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has stated that the domestic crude supply to local refinery has risen by 214.61 percent, to 280,000 barrels per day from 89,000 barrels per day in early 2024, and 220,000 barrels per day by the end of 2024.
The Commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, released the during his address at the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) Summit, held on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to him, the growths reflected the success of NUPRC ‘s regulatory alignment between production and domestic refining demand.
He was represented by one of the deputy director in the commission, Ayo Cardozo.
“Domestic crude supply to local refinery has risen from 89,000 barrels per day in early 2024 to 220,000 barrels per day by the end of 2024, and currently averages about 280,000 barrels per day” he said.
Komolafe pointed out that as domestic refining capacity expanded, led by Dangote Refinery and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation-Limited NNPC facilities, the commission has remained committed to guaranteeing the feedstock security that sustains the reliable crude oil supply framework and value chain optimisation.
To ensure long-term sustainability, he said the efforts of the commission included multiple layers of assurance that reinforced confidence across the value chain.
“We have instituted predictable allocation and nomination mechanisms that remove uncertainty from crude supply planning, while transparent contracting and lifting frameworks ensure fairness and accountability in every transaction.
“Continuous engagement between producers and refineries keeps communication open and collaboration active, supported by the deployment of tools for monitoring, verification, and conservation of deliveries.
“Above all, strict compliance enforcement sustains mutual trust between upstream operators and refining owners. Our goal is simple, but difficult, to make Nigeria’s top-tier production and domestic refineries system the movers of refining goods. What top-tier reforms alone cannot deliver the transformation we seek,” he said.
For Nigeria to truly capture the full value of its refinery investments, Komolafe said it must complete the liberalisation of the entire oil value chain.
According to him, a competitive, transparent, and market-driven upstream and downstream system would enhance refinery viability, improve the efficiency of product distribution, stimulate innovation, and firmly position Nigeria as the regional refinery hub for West and Central Africa.
He pointed out that achieving this vision would demand deliberate structural and policy measures, transparent third-party access to transportation and storage infrastructure, market-reflective pricing and allocation systems, expanded private investment in upstream and retail networks, and the clear separation of refining, transport, and retail operations to ensure efficiency, fairness, and accountability.
“This year’s opening work we are enforcing, and the refining growth we anticipate, all rest on collaboration. Notably, the NUPRC is not a distant regulator, we are a partner, a facilitator, and business enabler. This has been our mantra for a very long time now.
“We are a partner, and we are actively engaging with producers, refiners, investors, financiers, both communities and security agencies to ensure the system works for all stakeholders.
“To our producers, we urge you to view the domestic fuel supply regulation not merely as a mandate, but as a shared national duty and a cornerstone for sustainable industry. To our refiners, we call for continued collaboration, efficiency, and adherence to world-class standards.
“To our investors, Nigeria stands ready, not just as a crude exporter, but as Africa’s emerging refining and petrochemical powerhouse. And to our partners, let us keep working together to build an energy system that is secure, transparent, and self-sufficient,” Komolafe said
