…the fuel import debate in Nigeria has continued to generate strong reactions from marketers.
Abuja, Nigeria – The iNews Times reports that Fuel Import Debate in Nigeria has intensified after petroleum marketers and energy experts rejected the World Bank’s recommendation that the country should open its borders to premium motor spirit imports in order to edge the Dangote Refinery.
The controversy began after the World Bank, in its Nigeria Development Update released on April 7, advised that Africa’s most populous nation should prioritize fuel imports, claiming that imported petrol was cheaper than domestically refined products.
The recommendation immediately stirred debate across Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, with industry stakeholders questioning both the timing and the economic logic of the proposal.
Days after the backlash, the World Bank removed the Nigeria Development Update report from its website and clarified that its position was not a blanket endorsement of fuel importation. Instead, it described its recommendation as part of a broader reform strategy tied to consumer protection and social safety nets. The bank later adjusted its stance on downstream liberalization in Nigeria.
“In the case of Nigeria, the focus should be to provide targeted support to the most vulnerable people through their well-functioning social safety net system, and the World Bank Group stands ready to step up its existing support,” the institution stated last week.
Despite that clarification, the fuel import debate in Nigeria has continued to generate strong reactions from marketers, refinery owners, and policy analysts, especially against the backdrop of global supply uncertainties linked to the ongoing Iran–United States–Israel conflict, which has entered its seventh week.
Energy experts argue that at a time of global supply shocks, encouraging greater import dependence could expose Nigeria to external market volatility rather than shield consumers from price instability.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise weighed in on the matter through its Chief Executive Officer, Muda Yusuf, who described the World Bank’s proposal as potentially counterproductive. Yusuf maintained that prioritizing imports over domestic refining could weaken local investment and undermine Nigeria’s long-term economic resilience.
Similarly, the spokesperson of the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, faulted the recommendation, arguing that imported fuel often falls short in quality compared to locally refined alternatives.
However, not all industry groups opposed the World Bank’s view. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, led by its National President Billy Gillis-Harry, expressed support for increased competition in the downstream sector, suggesting that liberalized imports could enhance price competitiveness.
That position, however, appears to contrast with the “Nigeria First” economic policy direction advanced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasizes local production and reduced import dependence.
In exclusive remarks obtained by DAILY POST and reviewed by The iNews Times, the Managing Partner of TENO Energy Resources Limited, Tim Okon, strongly questioned the relevance of the World Bank’s recommendation. Okon argued that Nigeria must focus on building a flexible and competitive domestic fuel supply system rather than reverting to import-heavy strategies.
“Why should the view of the World Bank be this important?” Okon asked. “It has become important because we have borrowed too much from them.”
According to him, Nigeria’s dependence on international financial institutions often gives such bodies leverage in shaping domestic economic policies. He described the import recommendation as an unnecessary theory that may reflect financial obligations rather than Nigeria’s long-term economic interests.
Okon further explained that stability in the fuel market could be achieved through product diversification. He argued that regulatory authorities should allow multiple blends of petrol at different price points to meet consumer needs. Using a practical example, he noted that not every vehicle requires premium-grade fuel, suggesting that varied product offerings could improve affordability without resorting to imports.
He also observed that Nigeria’s reduced fuel import volumes in recent months have disrupted established supply chains in parts of Europe, reinforcing the significance of Nigeria’s shift toward local refining capacity.
The fuel import debate in Nigeria gained further traction after the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, publicly rejected calls for increased importation.
Maigandi emphasized that Nigeria now has viable domestic refining capacity, particularly with the operations of the Dangote Refinery. He insisted that marketers should prioritize patronizing the refinery to encourage sustainable growth within the sector.
“Well, in fact, you know Dangote has a refinery. And we rely on that particular refinery because that’s what we have been looking for over the years. So, we are not telling anybody to go for importation,” he stated.
According to Maigandi, continued reliance on imported fuel would undermine Nigeria’s economic development, especially given the country’s abundant crude oil resources. He stressed that refining raw materials locally remains the most sustainable long-term solution.
Providing insight into pricing dynamics, Maigandi disclosed that petrol from Dangote Refinery is currently sold at about N1,200 per litre, with depot owners purchasing at slightly higher rates ranging between N1,220 and N1,240 per litre. He maintained that Dangote’s products are competitively priced and of high quality.
As the fuel import debate in Nigeria continues, analysts say the central issue extends beyond price comparisons. At stake are broader questions about economic sovereignty, industrial policy, foreign influence, and energy security.
With Nigeria transitioning toward expanded domestic refining, the policy direction adopted in the coming months could shape the structure of the downstream oil sector for years to come.
The iNews Times will continue to monitor developments in the fuel import debate in Nigeria, providing in-depth analysis and verified updates as stakeholders and policymakers navigate one of the most consequential energy policy discussions in recent years.
