Reps Committee applauds Dangote Refinery’s impact as Nigeria emerges as a net petrol exporter.

By Oke Peter 

The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has hailed Nigeria’s transition to a net exporter of petrol as a major milestone for the country’s energy sector, linking the achievement to expanding domestic refining capacity.

According to the committee, the shift was largely driven by operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, which in March 2026 exported more refined petrol than Nigeria imported. This development marks a significant turnaround for a country that has long relied on fuel imports despite being one of the world’s leading crude oil producers.

Market data shows that the refinery exported approximately 44,000 barrels per day of petrol during the period, while national imports fell to about 41,000 barrels per day—resulting in a modest export surplus.

This shift signals a structural transformation in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, where crude oil was historically shipped abroad for refining and later re-imported as finished products due to limited local processing capacity.

Further figures indicate that crude supply to the refinery climbed to around 565,000 barrels per day in March, representing one of its highest utilisation levels since operations began. This reflects the growing scale and capacity of domestic refining within the country.

Chairman of the committee, Ikenga Ugochinyere, described the development as a positive step toward strengthening local refining and stabilising Nigeria’s fuel supply chain. He noted that even a modest export surplus highlights the potential for domestic refining to reshape the nation’s energy landscape.

Lawmakers added that sustained growth in local refining could ease pressure on foreign exchange, improve fuel availability, and enhance energy security.

The committee also pointed to policy reforms as a key enabler of large-scale investments in the sector, stressing that continued regulatory support and protection of critical infrastructure will be vital to sustaining progress.

Overall, the refinery’s performance is seen as a crucial step toward addressing long-standing inefficiencies in Nigeria’s petroleum value chain, with expectations that consistent output could establish the country as a major regional supplier of refined petroleum products.

The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to backing policies that promote domestic refining and industrial development, as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s standing in the global energy market.