The Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria (JETFON) has publicly distanced itself from any legal action reportedly initiated by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, escalating divisions within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector over fuel import policies and local refining.
In a communiqué signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Olayiwola Temitope, JETFON said it does not share DAPPMAN’s position supporting the issuance of fresh fuel import licences by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The group criticized the regulator’s recent approval of import licences covering more than 600,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, describing the move as politically motivated and economically harmful to Nigeria’s growing domestic refining industry.
While some fuel marketers have argued that continued importation is necessary to prevent monopoly risks in the downstream market, JETFON maintained that Nigeria’s local refining capacity — led by the Dangote refinery and supported by other emerging refineries — is now sufficient to meet domestic demand.
The tank farm owners urged the Federal Government and the NMDPRA to suspend further fuel importation and revoke existing PMS import permits, arguing that continued dependence on imported refined products undermines local investments and weakens the national economy.
According to the association, prioritising domestic refining would strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, reduce exposure to global supply-chain disruptions, and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves and the naira.
“Relying on foreign refined products leaves the local economy vulnerable to external supply chain shocks, international logistics disruptions, and continuous foreign exchange pressures that weaken the naira,” the statement said.
JETFON cited the latest April 2026 industry data released by the NMDPRA to support its position. The regulator’s factsheet showed that Nigeria’s daily PMS consumption rose to 51.1 million litres in April, up from 47.3 million litres recorded in March.
At the same time, fuel import volumes declined sharply by 37.3 percent to 3.7 million litres per day in April, compared with 5.9 million litres per day in March.
Domestic refining output, largely driven by the Dangote refinery, supplied approximately 40.7 million litres daily during the period, significantly displacing imported fuel volumes and demonstrating the increasing role of local refining in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
Industry analysts say the Federal Government’s push to support domestic refining could substantially reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, conserve foreign exchange reserves, and improve currency stability.
Beyond macroeconomic gains, stakeholders argue that expanded local refining operations could stimulate industrial growth, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and retain more oil-sector value within the Nigerian economy.
