Nigeria’s Federal Government is set to resume petrol and diesel import permits by mid-February 2026 to avert looming fuel shortages.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority temporarily halted approvals earlier this year, but new licences could start being issued around February 15, 2026, or by early March at the latest.
The pause followed leadership changes at the agency, including the exit of its former chief executive on December 17, 2025, which slowed permit approvals.
Normally issued quarterly and valid for three months, import licences now face adjustments midway through the first quarter.
Crude supply to the Dangote Refinery fell to 250,000 barrels per day in January 2026, down from 350,000 bpd in December 2025, amid maintenance on key units, raising the risk of fuel shortfalls.
Petrol prices have surged from N699 per litre in December 2025 to about N799 by January 27, 2026.
Dangote warned that prices could hit N1,000 per litre and cost the economy an extra N1.75 trillion annually if marketers rely heavily on coastal shipping and pass the extra N75 per litre logistics cost to consumers.
The refinery stressed that gantry loading remains the most cost-efficient option, avoiding port and maritime charges, and urged marketers to choose evacuation methods wisely to sustain price gains from local refining.