By Hadiza Galadima
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has significantly increased its petrol supply to the Nigerian market, recording a 64% jump in output.
This surge comes immediately after the exit of Farouk Ahmed, the former head of the midstream and downstream regulatory body (NMDPRA).
For months, the refinery and the regulator were at odds over various technical and licensing issues. With a change in leadership, those “bottlenecks” appear to be clearing, allowing fuel to flow more freely from the Lekki plant to Nigerian gas stations.
This 64% increase is a major step toward lower fuel prices and better availability. By producing and distributing more fuel locally, Nigeria reduces its dependence on the US Dollar for imports, which is a key driver of inflation.
The focus is now on getting this fuel to every corner of the country as quickly as possible.
As the refinery continues to ramp up to its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the next challenge will be ensuring the country’s roads and pipelines can handle the massive increase in tanker traffic.
