NMDPRA Grants Import Permits to Seven Oil Marketers to Strengthen Fuel Supply

By Udeme Akpan, Energy Editor

Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator has granted a new set of fuel import permits to major oil marketers amid growing concerns about domestic supply levels.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) issued these approvals to selected marketers for the third quarter of 2026, allowing the import of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly called petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), or diesel.

The approvals, covering July to September, were granted to companies such as Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono, Nipco, and Pinnacle, according to industry sources.

This action aims to maintain market stability and avert potential supply disruptions caused by falling stock levels and reduced gasoline output from Nigeria’s largest refinery.

Sources familiar with the approvals indicated that AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono, Matrix Energy, Nipco, and Pinnacle were authorised to import petrol, while AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono, Matrix Energy, and Pinnacle received diesel import approval. The new permits come after an earlier batch of petrol import licences issued in May. Although the approvals were originally expected by June 15, industry sources noted they were finalised after some delays.

Under the new allocation, AA Rano and Matrix Energy were approved to import 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol each, Pinnacle received 150,000 metric tonnes, and AYM Shafa was allotted 120,000 metric tonnes.

For diesel, AYM Shafa was approved for 60,000 metric tonnes, and Pinnacle for 45,000 metric tonnes.

Additional approvals may still be issued, and total petrol import allocations are expected to exceed 800,000 metric tonnes upon conclusion of the regulatory exercise.

The latest regulatory action comes amid tightening fuel inventories.

NMDPRA data indicated that petrol stock sufficiency fell to 16 days in May, while diesel inventory cover was 31 days during the same period.

The fresh permits were issued when international gasoline and diesel prices had weakened, potentially enhancing the profitability of fuel imports for Nigerian marketers.